The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, cleared the Tk 3.78 billion project on Tuesday.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said Bangladesh Railway would execute the scheme.

The government will provide Tk 1.29 billion while the rest will come in the form of Japanese government grants.

According to documents, the 21.5 km dual-gauge lines will be laid alongside the current tracks.

"Both Dhaka and Narayanganj are densely populated cities. Traffic jam costs us working hours regularly," Kamal said.

"Commuting and transporting goods will get easier once the dual-gauge lines are installed and it will take less time as well."

He hoped the project would be complete by mid-2017.

The ECNEC also cleared five other ventures, including Chittagong’s Pahartali Railway Workshop Development Project.

The allotment for it, intended to improve repair and maintenance of carriages and wagons, was increased from Tk 1.46 billion to Tk 2.18 billion.

The planning minister said the project would be completed by Dec 2017.

The other projects include the establishment of 11 secondary schools and six colleges in Dhaka, and develop low-cost solar power generation technology.