With the national elections only months away, the government has taken up five mega projects involving Tk 3,368.21 crore for developing and widening district roads in five of the eight zones in the country.

Under the two-year projects, district roads will be expanded and repaired to improve the standard of the existing road network and ensure safe communications.

The Roads and Highways (R&H) Department will implement the projects in Rajshahi, Khulna, Rangpur, Chittagong and Sylhet zones by June 2020.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the projects yesterday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The costs of the projects will be met from the national exchequer.

A major portion of the money will be spent on land acquisition, and construction of dams, box culverts, cross drains and pavements.

"The project has been taken up for repairing the district roads that got damaged due to natural causes," Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said after the Ecnec meeting.

Earlier this month, he told a group of reporters that the PM directed the authorities concerned to quickly repair the roads and highways.

The roads in a number of districts have reportedly been in a bad shape for quite a while. At a recent meeting at the planning ministry, a number of lawmakers expressed resentment over the poor condition of roads.

They said that during visits to their constituencies, they often felt embarrassed as people raised questions about their integrity, pointing out that many of the roads got damaged within a few months of construction.

The representatives of the authorities concerned told the meeting that they would launch a crash programme to repair roads across the country immediately, keeping the next parliamentary polls in mind.

The total length of the roads and highways under the R&H Department is 21,302 km, of which 3,813km are national highways, 4,247km regional highways and 13,242km district roads.

CTG ZONE

There are 78 roads in this zone with a total length of 1,658km.

Under a Tk 652-crore project, around 182km roads in 13 districts will be expanded and developed considering the importance, present width and extent of damage, according to the project proposal.

Besides, nine bridges and 118 culverts will be reconstructed.

Once the project is implemented, it will be easier to transport agricultural and industrial products to Chittagong and other parts of the country, said the proposal.

The project areas include Raozan, Fatikchhari, Rangunia, Sitakunda, Sandwip, Patia and Boalkhali in Chittagong district, and Chakaria, Maheshkhali and Cox's Bazar.

Earlier, some 208km roads in the zone were developed and repaired on a priority basis under another project.

RAJSHAHI ZONE

This zone has 2,632km roads -- 503km national highways, 600km regional highways and 1,450km district roads, according to the project proposal.

Under a Tk 766.58-crore project, the R&H Department will develop 296.15km of the 1,450km district roads, including 64.79km roads that fall under the extremely bad category.

The project areas include Sirajganj, Pabna, Natore, Rajshahi, Noagaon, and Chapainawabganj districts.

Earlier, a Tk 109.78-crore project was implemented for repairing and maintaining 216.11km roads in the zone from 2015 to 2017.

KHULNA ZONE

Comprised of 10 districts, Khulna zone has been playing an important role in transporting agricultural products and fish to other parts of the country.

Though the number of passengers and goods-laden vehicles has multiplied, the roads have not been expanded over the years and the standard of the roads are not good, said the project documents.

Keeping this in mind, the R&H Department will carry out development work on 320.68km roads in this zone at a cost of Tk 756.80 crore.

The project areas include Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Magura, Jhenidah, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Narail and Meherpur districts.

SYLHET ZONE

The number of district roads in this zone is 78 with a total length of 1,658km.

The R&H Department will develop 184.72km roads in 13 districts under a Tk 538.30-crore project.

"The condition of the roads is very poor and those fall under the extremely bad category," said the project proposal citing the Highway Development and Management Survey.

If the road is not repaired immediately, there will be an adverse effect on transportation of goods, economic activities and people's movement. This could also cause public sufferings, said the proposal.

The project areas include Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts.

RANGPUR ZONE

This is also an important zone comprising 10 north-western districts, but the width, design and standard of the district roads and highways that are linked to the capital are not proper, said the project proposal.

Against this backdrop, the department has undertaken a TK 654.43-crore project to widen the roads.

Repair work will also be carried out on 28 damaged roads.