100km 4-lane highway at Tk 700cr soon

Cross-dams planned at Tk 250 crores to stop erosion

The 100KM four-lane highway, to be constructed at a cost of Tk 700 crore, from Sirajganj to Panchagarh via Gaibandha along the western embankment of river Jamuna, will be implemented soon.
Work has begun to reclaim around 6.5 square kilometer area under the Jamuna river.
There is also a plan to recover four square kilometer area, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and Water Resources Ministry sources confirmed to The Independent yesterday.
Sirajganj and its adjoining areas have faced severe erosion at the hands of the mighty Jamuna.
Since the Liberation War, around 20 square kilometers have been devoured by the river, rendering many homeless.
Many homesteads, important installations and vast track of croplands have been swept away in this period.
Every year, in an effort to help residents, the Water Development Board (WDB) takes several initiatives, including dumping concrete blocks at vulnerable points, which prove very expensive.
The erosion also came under spotlight after construction of the Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge (BJMB). Recently, a morphological study involving spot inspection for two years, conducted by the Water Development Board (WDB) and Chinese specialists, recommended construction of three cross-dams on the Jamuna.
Plans to construct the cross-dams at a cost of Tk 250 crores are underway. The sites have been fixed at the nearby Jamuna Eco Park and the western side of Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge.
The Dutch government and China have jointly given consent to provide funds for the project.
Meanwhile, land measuring around 6.5 square kilometer has been recovered along the Jamuna river through the activity and an additional four square kilometers is expected to emerge in the near future.
China confirmed this information to Bangladesh through satellite.
A reliable source from the Water Resources Ministry mentioned that a Special Economic Zone would be established in the area after reclaiming the lands of Jamuna, along with a river port near Sirajganj townand on the western side of Jamuna river.
 Goods from the northern region will be transported throughout the river port besides transporting goods from India and Bhutan to Chittagong sea port.
These projects are set to usher in a new era of business, believe Ministry sources.
A directive to prepare town development plans has been given to the concerned department.
Sheikh Hassan Imam, Executive Engineer of WDB in Sirajganj, said the government will construct a 100 Km-long four-lane highway from Sirajganj to Panchagorh via Gaibandha at an estimated cost of Tk 700 crores.
Under the project, the highway from Gaibandha to Panchagorh will be expanded. China will provide the funds for the project.
A deal between China and Bangladesh will be signed soon in this regard.
A China-based construction firm, under supervision of the Army, has been chosen to implement the project within three years, he added.

100km 4-lane highway at Tk 700cr soon

Cross-dams planned at Tk 250 crores to stop erosion

The 100KM four-lane highway, to be constructed at a cost of Tk 700 crore, from Sirajganj to Panchagarh via Gaibandha along the western embankment of river Jamuna, will be implemented soon. Work has begun to reclaim around 6.5 square kilometer area under the Jamuna river. There is also a plan to recover four square kilometer area, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and Water Resources Ministry sources confirmed to The Independent yesterday. Sirajganj and its adjoining areas have faced severe erosion at the hands of the mighty Jamuna. Since the Liberation War, around 20 square kilometers have been devoured by the river, rendering many homeless. Many homesteads, important installations and vast track of croplands have been swept away in this period. Every year, in an effort to help residents, the Water Development Board (WDB) takes several initiatives, including dumping concrete blocks at vulnerable points, which prove very expensive. The erosion also came under spotlight after construction of the Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge (BJMB). Recently, a morphological study involving spot inspection for two years, conducted by the Water Development Board (WDB) and Chinese specialists, recommended construction of three cross-dams on the Jamuna. Plans to construct the cross-dams at a cost of Tk 250 crores are underway. The sites have been fixed at the nearby Jamuna Eco Park and the western side of Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge. The Dutch government and China have jointly given consent to provide funds for the project. Meanwhile, land measuring around 6.5 square kilometer has been recovered along the Jamuna river through the activity and an additional four square kilometers is expected to emerge in the near future. China confirmed this information to Bangladesh through satellite. A reliable source from the Water Resources Ministry mentioned that a Special Economic Zone would be established in the area after reclaiming the lands of Jamuna, along with a river port near Sirajganj townand on the western side of Jamuna river. Goods from the northern region will be transported throughout the river port besides transporting goods from India and Bhutan to Chittagong sea port. These projects are set to usher in a new era of business, believe Ministry sources. A directive to prepare town development plans has been given to the concerned department. Sheikh Hassan Imam, Executive Engineer of WDB in Sirajganj, said the government will construct a 100 Km-long four-lane highway from Sirajganj to Panchagorh via Gaibandha at an estimated cost of Tk 700 crores. Under the project, the highway from Gaibandha to Panchagorh will be expanded. China will provide the funds for the project. A deal between China and Bangladesh will be signed soon in this regard. A China-based construction firm, under supervision of the Army, has been chosen to implement the project within three years, he added.