The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved a total of 15 projects worth Taka 17,987 crore.

The projects include the 'Eastern zone grid network extension and capacity strengthening' project involving an estimated cost of Taka 5,803.94 crore in a bid to ensure reliable power supply to greater Comilla, Noakhali and Chittagong regions.

The approval came from the 18th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year held at the NEC conference room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of 15 projects were approved today with an overall estimated cost of Taka 17,987.23 crore.

"Of the total project cost, Taka 11,940.32 crore will come from the GoB portion, Taka 523.69 crore from the organisation's own fund while the rest of Taka 5,523.22 crore from project assistance," he said.

Of the approved 15 projects, 13 are new while two are revised projects.

The planning minister said Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited under the Power Division will implement the Eastern Zone Grid Network Extension and Capacity Strengthening Project by December 2021 with Taka 3,642.48 crore as loan assistance from the World Bank.

The project, which also aims to meet the growing power demand of the region alongside reducing wastage, will be implemented at 35 upazilas under nine districts of Dhaka and Chittagong divisions.

According to the Power System Master Plan 2016, there is a need to establish such power transmission system across the country which will be capable of transmitting around 40,000 MW of power by 2030.

Under the circumstances, the project has been approved to boost the capacity of the Eastern Zone Grid Network.

The main project operations include erection of some 12.63 kilometre 400 KV transmission lines, setting up 175.91 kilometer 230 KV Transmission lines as well as 256.3 kilometre 132 KV Transmission lines, construction of some 14 Power sub stations, six bay extensions and some 86 acres of land acquisition.