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Dhaka, Delhi finalise 14 projects for mutual gain
: $1 billion loan from India to be utilised in the schemes
Dhaka, Delhi finalise 14 projects for mutual gain
Bangladesh and India have finalised 14 development projects, particularly for infrastructure building, to be implemented in Bangladesh with Indian loan of $1 billion.
Both the countries will be benefited directly as some of the projects are aimed at new connectivity between Bangladesh and India, officials say.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a line of credit of $1 billion during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's state visit to India on January 10-13 for a range of projects including railway infrastructure, supply of BG locomotives and passenger coaches, rehabilitation of Saidpur workshop, procurement of buses and dredging projects.
Sources say the Bangladesh side submitted 29 projects to India for utilising the one-billion-dollar loan. However, the two sides at a recent meeting held in New Delhi reviewed the 29 projects and finalised 14 for implementation.
Most of the projects are for development of railway infrastructure in Bangladesh.
Official sources say the projects have been sent to the planning ministry for final approval. After the ministry's clearance, the finance ministries of the two countries will sign a loan agreement to utilise the loan.
The first project is procurement of six high-powered dredgers at a cost of around $71.7 million. One of the dredgers will be used for dredging at Mongla Port, three for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and two for Bangladesh Water Development Board.
Hasina in her meeting with Singh sought Indian help for dredging of rivers in Bangladesh and indicated the need for nine dredgers. Her Indian counterpart agreed to support implementation of the strategy of the Bangladesh government to dredge rivers for flood control, navigation and access to ports. He also agreed to provide dredgers to Bangladesh on an urgent basis.
The second project is related to construction of an internal container port at Ashuganj at a cost of $36.2 million. Bangladesh and India have recently signed an agreement under which Ashuganj in Bangladesh and Silghat in India have been declared ports of call.
A joint team has already assessed improvement of infrastructure and the cost for one-time or longer-term transportation of ODCs (Over Dimensional Cargo) from Ashuganj.
Official sources say the Indian government has agreed to make necessary investment and both the governments are working to expedite the project's implementation.
The third project would see procurement of 10 locomotive engines for Bangladesh Railway at a cost of $35.5 million. On the other hand, the fourth one is for purchasing 125 broad gauge passenger coaches for Bangladesh Railway at a cost of $53.6 million.
The fifth and sixth projects are about buying 60 tank wagons at $8.85 million and 50 flat wagons at $4.55 million for Bangladesh Railway.
Under the next project, a railway bridge will be constructed on the river Titas, which will cost $120 million.
The eighth project is to buy 300 double-decker buses for Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation at an estimated amount of $30 million. Under the ninth project, 50 luxury buses will be bought for BRTC at a cost of $6 million.
Another project is related to development of road communications for a land port. Under the project, Sarail-Brahmanbaria-Sultanpur-Akhaura-Sonardi road will be constructed at a cost of $33 million.
The 11th project is for construction of an overpass at Jurain rail crossing and a flyover at Malibagh rail crossing in Dhaka. These will cost $31 million.
The project number 12 is purely for connectivity between Bangladesh and India. Under this project, a road would be constructed between Ramgarh and Sabroom [Tripura's southern border town] at a cost of $14.5 million.
The sources say India wants to construct the road on an urgent basis for connectivity as distance from Sabroom to the Chittagong port is around 75 kilometres.
An amount of $158 million will be spent for the 13th project, which is for setting up power gridline between India and Bangladesh. Under the project, a 400 KV inter-connector will be set up from Bahrampur in India to Bheramara in Bangladesh.
The 14th project has four sub projects related to capacity building of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI). The Indian premier agreed to support upgradation of BSTI with a view to building capacity on certification when Sheikh Hasina went to India on a state visit in January.
Under the project, several laboratories will be set up to test food, cement, brick and gold at a cost of $8.92 million. Besides, BSTI will be given financial and technological support for improvement of its research standard and accreditation.
The sources add the ministries concerned are ready to start implementation of the projects and waiting for final approval of the planning ministry and formal loan agreement between Bangladesh and Indian finance ministries.
: $1 billion loan from India to be utilised in the schemes
Dhaka, Delhi finalise 14 projects for mutual gain
Bangladesh and India have finalised 14 development projects, particularly for infrastructure building, to be implemented in Bangladesh with Indian loan of $1 billion.
Both the countries will be benefited directly as some of the projects are aimed at new connectivity between Bangladesh and India, officials say.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a line of credit of $1 billion during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's state visit to India on January 10-13 for a range of projects including railway infrastructure, supply of BG locomotives and passenger coaches, rehabilitation of Saidpur workshop, procurement of buses and dredging projects.
Sources say the Bangladesh side submitted 29 projects to India for utilising the one-billion-dollar loan. However, the two sides at a recent meeting held in New Delhi reviewed the 29 projects and finalised 14 for implementation.
Most of the projects are for development of railway infrastructure in Bangladesh.
Official sources say the projects have been sent to the planning ministry for final approval. After the ministry's clearance, the finance ministries of the two countries will sign a loan agreement to utilise the loan.
The first project is procurement of six high-powered dredgers at a cost of around $71.7 million. One of the dredgers will be used for dredging at Mongla Port, three for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and two for Bangladesh Water Development Board.
Hasina in her meeting with Singh sought Indian help for dredging of rivers in Bangladesh and indicated the need for nine dredgers. Her Indian counterpart agreed to support implementation of the strategy of the Bangladesh government to dredge rivers for flood control, navigation and access to ports. He also agreed to provide dredgers to Bangladesh on an urgent basis.
The second project is related to construction of an internal container port at Ashuganj at a cost of $36.2 million. Bangladesh and India have recently signed an agreement under which Ashuganj in Bangladesh and Silghat in India have been declared ports of call.
A joint team has already assessed improvement of infrastructure and the cost for one-time or longer-term transportation of ODCs (Over Dimensional Cargo) from Ashuganj.
Official sources say the Indian government has agreed to make necessary investment and both the governments are working to expedite the project's implementation.
The third project would see procurement of 10 locomotive engines for Bangladesh Railway at a cost of $35.5 million. On the other hand, the fourth one is for purchasing 125 broad gauge passenger coaches for Bangladesh Railway at a cost of $53.6 million.
The fifth and sixth projects are about buying 60 tank wagons at $8.85 million and 50 flat wagons at $4.55 million for Bangladesh Railway.
Under the next project, a railway bridge will be constructed on the river Titas, which will cost $120 million.
The eighth project is to buy 300 double-decker buses for Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation at an estimated amount of $30 million. Under the ninth project, 50 luxury buses will be bought for BRTC at a cost of $6 million.
Another project is related to development of road communications for a land port. Under the project, Sarail-Brahmanbaria-Sultanpur-Akhaura-Sonardi road will be constructed at a cost of $33 million.
The 11th project is for construction of an overpass at Jurain rail crossing and a flyover at Malibagh rail crossing in Dhaka. These will cost $31 million.
The project number 12 is purely for connectivity between Bangladesh and India. Under this project, a road would be constructed between Ramgarh and Sabroom [Tripura's southern border town] at a cost of $14.5 million.
The sources say India wants to construct the road on an urgent basis for connectivity as distance from Sabroom to the Chittagong port is around 75 kilometres.
An amount of $158 million will be spent for the 13th project, which is for setting up power gridline between India and Bangladesh. Under the project, a 400 KV inter-connector will be set up from Bahrampur in India to Bheramara in Bangladesh.
The 14th project has four sub projects related to capacity building of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI). The Indian premier agreed to support upgradation of BSTI with a view to building capacity on certification when Sheikh Hasina went to India on a state visit in January.
Under the project, several laboratories will be set up to test food, cement, brick and gold at a cost of $8.92 million. Besides, BSTI will be given financial and technological support for improvement of its research standard and accreditation.
The sources add the ministries concerned are ready to start implementation of the projects and waiting for final approval of the planning ministry and formal loan agreement between Bangladesh and Indian finance ministries.
