Haor elevated roads await ECNEC nod

A mega project for the construction of a 10-kilometer long elevated road in the haor (wetlands) areas of Sunamganj and Netrokona districts will be placed today at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.

Under the proposed project, elevated roads along with bridges, culverts and other necessary infrastructures will be constructed in five upazilas of the two districts to ensure smooth and modern transportation system in the haor.

The project areas will cover vast areas of Dharmapasha, Tahirpur, Bishamvarpur and Jamalganj Upazilas of Sunamganj district and also Barhatta upazila of Netrokona district.

Primarily, the project cost has been estimated at Tk 3,490 crore, which will solely come from the government exchequer. The Local Government and Engineering Department will implement the project by June, 2025.

In this regard, the Local Government Division proposed the project titled ‘Elevated Roads and Develop Physical Infrastructure in Haor Areas’ which is likely to be placed today before the ECNEC for approval, a senior official at the Planning Commission told The Business Post.

According to the project proposal, the road communication system in the Haor areas is still underdeveloped. The existing communication system is basically based on rural submerged roads, which can only be used during the dry season while water vehicles are the main mode of transportation during the rainy season.

Due to the existing underdeveloped road communication system, transportation of agricultural products, development of rural infrastructures, creation of employment opportunities, availability of social facilities, especially education and health are largely being hampered.

Under this project, around 97.86 kilometre of all-season upazila roads and a-20.27 km union roads will be constructed. Constructions of 16.53 km submersible upazila roads and 22.86 km submersible union and village roads are also included in the project.

Besides, 10.71 km elevated road, 57 bridges and 118 culverts will also be constructed.

Meanwhile, a survey project was approved on November 13, 2016 for the construction of a bridge culvert with a road, which was promised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Center for Environmental and Geographical Information Service conducted a year-long survey to develop sustainable infrastructure, maintaining the biodiversity of the haor region.

While talking to The Business Post, member of the Planning Commission Ramendra Nath Biswas said, “The development of physical infrastructures in the haor areas will create more opportunities for the locals and ensure easy transportation of goods, agricultural products, fishery resources round the year. This will boost the rural economic activities.”

“The project will also contribute to poverty alleviation by creating short and long-term employment opportunities for the rural poor. So, the project Evaluation Committee has already recommended the project for ECNEC approval,” he further added.