Dhaka: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a project involving Tk 8034.48 crore to establish rail-link with the country’s prime tourist attraction Cox’s Bazar.

With Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, ECNEC approved the project at its 27th meeting, held at the National Economic Council (NEC) conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Under the project, Bangladesh Railway will build the Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar rail tack in next three years and the Ramu-Gundum rail track by June 2022. Both the portions of the rail track will have single line dual gauge.

On completion of the two new rail tracks, the country will also move a big step forward to establish cross-border transport link among Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

Briefing on the outcome of the ENCEN meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told journalists that of the total allocation for the railway project, the government would mobilise Taka 4 thousand 919 crore 7 lakh from its own sources when the rest Taka 13 thousand 115 crore 41 lakh would come from Asia Development Bank (ADB) as project assistance. Bangladesh Railway will also contribute Taka 46 crore 47 lakh to the project.

He said that the rail tracks would go through Chandanaish, Satkania and Lohagara upazilas of Chittagong district, Chokoria, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Ramu and Ukhia upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district and Gundum upazila of Bandarban district.

“Once the project is implemented, it would play an important role in increasing the regional economic activities and would help boost tourism industries in Cox’s Bazar,” the minister said.

He said that the ECNEC also approved six other projects. These are: rehabilitation of some 100 meter gauge passenger carriages for Bangladesh Railway with Taka 59.30 crore; road extension and development from Jatrabari section to Trimukhi under Dhaka South City Corporation with Taka 154.89 crore; connecting road from Baratakiya (Abutoraba) to Mirsharai economic zone with Taka 123.57 crore; widening of Sadullapur-Pirganj-Nawabganj district highway with Taka 90.19 crore; construction of 219.456 meter long Shahbazpur Bridge and rehabilitation of the existing bridge at the 93^rd kilometer on Dhaka-Sylhet highway with Taka 67.90 crore; Kashimpur pump house rehabilitation under Monu River irrigation project with Taka 84.16 crore and construction of multi-channel slipway house with Taka 42.78 crore.

Ministers, state ministers and planning commission members and secretaries concerned were present at the meeting.