The government is going to undertake a special project involving Tk 2,500 crore for developing rural infrastructure and the quality of life for rural people in three key districts.
The project titled, “Development of Important Rural Infrastructure in Comilla, Brahmanbaria and Chandpur districts” will be implemented for increasing the transportation facilities of villages, markets, health centers, educational institutions and other service providers.
In this regard, an official of the Planning Commission said that the processing of the project has already been completed.
It is expected to be presented at the next meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
If approved, the project will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) at the cost of Tk 2,500 crore between this year and June 2025.
Zakir Hossain Akand, Member (Secretary) of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Department of the Planning Commission, who is in charge of the project, said, “Development of overall communication system in 34 upazilas of Comilla, Brahmanbaria and Chandpur districts will reduce transportation costs and increase production and marketing facilities for agricultural and non-agricultural products.”
“Involving the poor in rural infrastructure construction and maintenance will help create short- and long-term employment opportunities and alleviate poverty,” he added.
The main activities of the project are: 34.46 km upazila road development, 118.99 km union road development, 1,663.6 km rural road development, 416.01 m upazila road bridge, 430.63 m union road bridge, bridges on 1, 901.5 km village road, 1,45,787.15 m protective works, 55,64,998 cubic meters of soil work, 259.18 km road rehabilitation and widening and acquisition of 5 acres of land.
According to local government sources, total population of 34 upazilas of Comilla, Brahmanbaria and Chandpur districts is 9.8 million.
The total area of these three districts is 6,716.57 sq km and the population density is 1,454 people per sq km. The population density in the area is increasing.
Of these districts, 2,058.16 km out of 2,187.96 km of upazila roads, 2,241.72 km out of 2,918.29 km of union roads and 3,870.9 km out of 15,480.76 km of village roads have been developed so far.
The overall progress of paving these rural roads is 40.17 percent. These districts produce a variety of agricultural and non-agricultural products.
Besides, these districts are ahead of all other districts in natural resources and tourism industry.
The development of rural infrastructure in the region will lead to more employment, increase in production of agricultural and non-agricultural products, development of tourism industry and will be influential in increasing the country's GDP.