ERD prepares 11 project proposals after India’s second LoC offer

Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the finance ministry has prepared 11 development project proposals about a month after India pledged another Line of Credit (LoC) to Bangladesh.

Zafar Ahmedbdnews24.com
Published : 14 May 2015, 01:12 PM
Updated : 14 May 2015, 01:12 PM

The total cost of the proposed projects for roads, railways, power, ICT and education sectors is estimated to be $2.71 billion.

Bangladesh government will fund $ 558 million from its own exchequer and for the remaining $2.15 billion, external support will be required.

According to the officials, India might be asked to provide a $2 billion LoC for the implementation of these projects.

An ERD official told bdnews24.com Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman will chair a meeting from Thursday to identify the projects.

Some changes might be made to the list of the projects at the meeting as per priorities.

India’s External Affairs Secretary Sujata Mehta during her visit to Bangladesh on Apr 6 conveyed India’s offer to give second LoC.

As per an ERD document, $48 million have been earmarked for the purchase of 500 trucks for the BRTC to implement a project with loan from India.

Apart from that, for BRTC’s double-decker bus purchase project, $58 million have been earmarked.

For the purchase of high-power machinery for the Roads and Highways Division, a further $69 million have been set aside.

Four railway projects have also been included in the draft. Among them are laying of dual-gauge tracks from Bogra to Sadanandapur via Sirajganj and Raipur at a cost of $380 million dollars.

Another project is for laying double lines and installation of signalling system in Khulna-Darshana section, also at a cost of $380 million. 

Apart from them, a $105 million project for setting up of a railway workshop at Syedpur and another project for upgrading metre gauge to dual gauge in Parbatipur-Kaunia section at a cost of $130 million are enlisted.

For higher education and information technology capacity building, a $12 million project has been included in the list.

The project cost for the establishment of high-tech parks in 12 districts has been estimated to be $201 million.

The other enlisted projects are: A $366 million project for upgradation of 400 kV transmission line from Bogra to Kaliakoir and a 33/11 kV power sub-station and grid construction project at a cost of $961 million.

On Aug 7, 2010, the ERD signed an agreement with India’s Exim Bank to take $1 billion loan to implement 14 development projects.