Govt to spend 567 crore for development of 3 domestic airports

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) today approved four projects, including a Tk 567 crore one, to develop the runways of three domestic airports -- Jashore, Syedpur and Rajshahi -- to ensure the safe landing and take-off of aircraft.

The approval came from the weekly Ecnec meeting held virtually with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The prime minister joined the meeting from Gono Bhaban through a videoconference, while other Ecnec members were connected from NEC Bhaban.

"Four projects of three ministries were approved in today's meeting. The total estimated cost of the four projects is Tk 1,668.29 crore," said Planning Division Secretary Md Ashadul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.

Of the cost, Tk 1,555 crore will be financed from GoB funds, while the rest Tk 113.35 crore will come from the fund of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh.

Among the four projects, three are new, while the remaining one is a revised project.

Talking about the Project titled 'Asphalt Concrete Overlay to the Runway Surface of Jashore Airport, Syedpur Airport and Shah Makhdum Airport, Rajshahi', Ashadul Islam said the project will be implemented from January 2021 to June 2023 at a cost of Tk 566.76 crore.