Tk 7,189cr Comilla-B'baria 4-Lane Highway project approved by ECNEC

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved six development projects including the Tk 7,189 crore Comilla-Brahmanbaria National Highway into a four-lane one upgradation project, reports UNB.

The highway from Mainamati of Comilla to Dharkhar of Brahmanbaria will be upgraded into a four-lane one with separate lanes for slow vehicles on both sides by June 2026, aiming to establish fast, safe and cost-effective road connectivity between Sylhet and Chittagong regions.

The approval came from the ECNEC meeting presided over by its chair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined the event through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban.

"The total estimated cost of the six approved projects is some Tk 8,739.68 crore (only additional costs of three revised projects were counted here)," said Planning Minister MA Mannan at a press briefing after the meeting held at the NEC Conference Room.

Of the total cost, Tk 5,929.03 crore will be drawn from the government's fund, while the rest of Tk 2,810.65 crore will come as a foreign loan, he said.

According to the Planning Commission, the project titled "Upgrading Comilla (Mainamati)-Brahmanbaria (Dharkhar) National Highway into a Four-Lane" will be executed at the cost of Tk 7,188.66 crore.

The government will finance Tk 4,378 crore and the remaining Tk 2,810.65 crore will come from the Indian Line of Credit (LoC).

The major project operations are the acquisition of 103 hectares of land, construction of 14 bridges (with a total length of 1,218.44 meters), one 1,030-meter flyover, two underpasses, 50 culverts, 12 foot-over bridges, 50 km flexible pavement and 4.5-km rigid pavement.

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