DHAKA: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved six projects, including two new projects involving Tk 1,031.67 crore.

The approval came from an ECNEC meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.

Sources said among the total expenditure of six projects, the government would finance Tk 695.62 crore and Tk 336.05 crore will come from project aid.

‘Construction of a dual-gauge rail line in parallel to existing meter-gauge line at Dhaka-Narayanganj section’ was approved in the meeting.

Bangladesh Railway will implement the project worth of Tk 378 crore. Out of total cost, government will provide Tk 129 crore and rest of the money will be provided by Japan government as project aid.

Another project of railway, ‘Development of Pahartali Workshop (First Revision)’ costing Tk 218 crore, was also approved. The government would provide Tk 131 crore and Japan government will provide Tk 87 crore as grant.

ECNEC also nodded to the ‘construction of 11 high schools and six government colleges in Dhaka city (Second Revision)’. The project will cost Tk 295 crore to be provided by the government.

Another project ‘Development of low cost solar power production technology (First Revision)’ was also approved in the meeting. The government will provide total expenditure of Tk 28 crore for the project.

Construction of three PC girder bridge on Sirajganj-Kazipur-Dhunat road, and super-structure of three bailey bridges (First Revision) and three other projects titled ‘Construction of labour tower’ were also approved in the ECNEC meeting.

BDST: 1313 HRS, JAN 20, 2015