Govt revises 5 development projects, cuts cost for one in inaugural ECNEC session

The revision of the projects comes through an extra allocation of Tk 4.83 billion, a media statement says

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the revision of five ongoing development projects in its first meeting since the BNP-led government took office.

Presided over by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman, the meeting was held at the Cabinet Room in the Secretariat -- a departure from its traditional venue at the Planning Commission in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

A total of 19 projects were initially on the agenda, but the session was adjourned after discussing eight, a government media release said.

The remaining 11 projects are expected to be taken up next week, according to planning ministry spokesperson Jasim Uddin.

Of the eight projects discussed, five were approved for revision with a cumulative net cost increase of Tk 4.83 billion.

Two projects saw an additional allocation of Tk 4.86 billion, while one project's cost was reduced by Tk 34.8 million.

The other two projects were granted time extensions without any change in funding.

Under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, the General Social Infrastructure Development Project-2 (GSIDP-2) saw its first revised cost increase by Tk 3.68 billion to Tk 14.5 billion from the original Tk 10 billion, while the Char Development and Settlement Project-4 (CDSP-4) had its third revised cost reduced by Tk 34.8 million to Tk 307 million.

Under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Modernisation of Diagnostic Imaging System in eight divisional medical college hospitals saw its first revised cost increase by Tk 1.18 billion, raising the total to Tk 12.13 billion, while the Establishment of Gopalganj Dental College and Hospital received a second revision for a time extension only.

The ECNEC also approved a time extension without increasing costs for the setting up of the IT Training and Incubation Centre project under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.

Three other projects were discussed but did not receive final approval during the session.