The government yesterday approved revisions to three projects involving Tk 3,707 crore, pushing up the collective completion cost by some Tk 1,053 crore. 

A meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the go-ahead to the revisions which extended the project deadlines.

With these three, the Ecnec yesterday approved six projects.

In 2018, the government approved a project to construct a container port on the Meghna river in Brahmanbaria's Ashuganj at an estimated cost of Tk 1,293 crore.

The Ecnec yesterday endorsed the first revision to the project titled "Establishment of Inland Container River Port at Ashuganj", increasing the project cost by 35 per cent to Tk 1,751 crore.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority was supposed to complete the project by December 2022, but now the completion date has been extended to December 2024.

According to the project documents from the planning commission, more funds were needed for changes and inclusion of infrastructure.

During a press briefing following the meeting, Planning Commission Member Satyajit Karmaker said the river port would enhance container shipment to and from ports in Chattogram, Mongla and Payra.

The project saw slow progress in the past three years for the pandemic, which also barred the arrival of members of an Indian consulting firm, he said.

Yesterday's meeting laid emphasis on faster implementation, he added. 

The Ecnec yesterday approved the second revision to a project called "Construction of Road on the bank of River Karnaphuli from Kalurghat Bridge to Chaktai Khal'', increasing the cost by around 19 per cent to Tk 2,779 crore.

The project was taken up in July 2017 with an initial estimated cost of Tk 2,275.53 crore and supposed to be completed by June 2020. The first revision saw a two-year extension to the completion deadline at no additional cost.

Chattogram Development Authority is implementing the project, which aims at protecting commercial and industrial areas of Khatunganj and Kalurghat and some major structures in the port city from floods and tidal surges.

Inclusion of new components, such as a bus bay, foot over bridge, pavements, two approach roads, walkway and prefabricated vertical drains, required more funds and time, said documents.

Planning Commission Member Karmaker said some components were added as a practical need and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also gave some directions.

Planning Minister MA Mannan at the briefing said the prime minister expressed dissatisfaction over concrete being poured at the bottom of the Chaktai canal before the Awami League came to power, which turned the canal into a drain.

The prime minister directed demolishing the concrete bottom and ensuring the revival of the natural canal, he added.

The remaining project, titled "Printing Industrial City", was approved in January 2016 and was supposed to be completed by December 2018. It already saw a three-year extension till December 2021.

But the project was again revised yesterday with the deadline now extended till December 2024.

The original estimated cost of the project was Tk 138.70 crore and now it has been raised by 90.74 per cent to Tk 264.55 crore for the inclusion of several new components.

The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation is implementing the project.