PM inaugurates 157 projects, including Purbachal, Chattogram expressways

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially inaugurated and initiated the construction of 10,041 structures and residences across 157 development projects, which encompass the Sheikh Hasina Swarani (Purbachal expressway) and the inaugural elevated expressway in Chattogram.

From her official residence at Ganabhaban, she initiated and placed the foundation stones for the development schemes via a video conferencing session, according to a BSS report.

Of the projects, 4644 were various development infrastructures and 5397 houses for the landless and homeless people under the Ashrayan-2 project across the country involving Taka 974,710 million under 24 ministries and divisions.

Among the schemes, 15 projects including the Purbachal Expressway, which was recently renamed Sheikh Hasina Swarani, were completed under the housing and public works ministry while different agencies of the shipping ministries are implementing 15 projects.

Four projects are under the primary and mass education ministry. Under one of the four projects, the authority has constructed buildings for 2023 government primary schools across the country while she also opened at least 1,259 buildings of different educational institutions under the education ministry across the country.

Four day-care centres implemented under a project of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry were also inaugurated.

The premier, as well, opened two technical training centres in Manikganj and Narayanganj, which were built under a project of the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry.

A total of 101 centres across the country were connected virtually to the programme. A video documentary on the overall development of Bangladesh under the current Awami League government was screened at the function.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque among other ministers were present on the dais.

The Purbachal Expressway, a 12.5 km stretch in Dhaka named after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was finally built, connecting the Kuril flyover point in Dhaka to Kanchan Bridge in Narayanganj, with a total cost of Taka 140,000 million.

The expressway has no stopover points, traffic signals, or any other obstacles, so vehicles can ply its entire length in as little as six or seven minutes. It is expected to ease road communication between the capital, Chattogram, and Sylhet

The PM also opened 100-feet-wide and 26 km-long canals on both sides of the Sheikh Hasina Swarani from Kuril to Balu River. Constructions of a 6.20km long eight-lane expressway, four lanes service road, six lanes expressway from Balu river to Kanchan in Narayanganj and four lanes service road were completed. Under the project, 184.79 acres of land was acquired.

Construction of five intersections over Sheikh Hasina Swarani, 12 bridges, six underpasses, 13 other bridges on the canals, 36.8 km walkways, 12.5km boundary wall, two sluice gates and 11 substations have been completed alongside the installation of 1170 street lights under the project.

In Chattogram, three development projects of the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and one of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) involving Taka 60,000 million were opened.

The CDA projects are the -16 km-long Chattogram elevated expressway, Foujderhat-Bayezid Link Road, and Bakalia Express Road. The CDA projects were named after former city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Jane Alam Donash and Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib.

The elevated expressway in Chattogram was constructed at a cost of Tk 42,990 million. The CPA constructed the Patenga Container Terminal at a cost of Taka 12,300 million with its own finance.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud built 51 houses for the landless and homeless people in his locality with his own initiative.