ECNEC okays Tk 3,586cr project to upgrade Sylhet-Tamabil highway

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved a project for upgrading the Sylhet-Tamabil highway into four-lane, including a separate slow-moving vehicular traffic lane (SMVT).

The project involves an estimated cost of Tk 3,586.04 crore and is meant to boost Bangladesh's trade and commerce, export and import by establishing sub-regional road connectivity with India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and China.

The approval came during a meeting of the ECNEC held with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The premier presided over the meeting virtually form her official residence Gono Bhaban while concerned ministers, state ministers and secretaries joined the meeting from the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of six projects were approved today involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 6,628.99 crore. "Of the total cost, Tk 2,071.10 crore will come from the government fund while Taka 4,593.89 crore as loan assistance."

Of the six projects, two are new while four are revised projects.

The planning minister said that the Department of Roads and Highways will implement the Sylhet-Tamabil Highway Upgradation project by June 2025. Sylhet Sadar, Dakshin Surma, Joyntapur and Gowainghat upazilas will fall under the upgradation project area.

"This highway upgradation project will establish cross-border connectivity, ease communication with the land port, economic zone and export processing zone as well as promote tourism," he said, adding that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will extend Tk 2,970.55 crore as loan assistance for the project.

The project will also pave the way for boosting Bangladesh's export-import as well as trade and commerce with the South and East Asian countries, especially with India's Assam and Tripura, Mannan said.

The planning minister also reiterated that the government has a plan to upgrade all the inter-district, and national highways into four-lane.

The main project operations include construction of 56.16km road pavements, 55.43 lakh cubic meter land work, construction of 21 bridges with a length of 1,939.84 meters, construction of 49 culverts, 10 foot-over bridges, one toll plaza, one excess load control.

The other projects approved in the meeting are Matlab-Meghna-Dhonagoda-Beribadh road development and expansion project with Tk 121.93 crore, ponds and canals development throughout the country, first revised with an additional cost of Tk 422.52 crore, constructing modern food silos with an additional cost of Tk 1,648.98 crore, and drainage system development of Dhaka.