The government today included Matarbari ultra-super critical coal fired power project and Paira seaport project in the list of Fast Track Projects.
With the two, the numbers of the priority projects become eight which include Padma bridge, Rooppur nuclear power plant, 1320mw Rampal thermal power plant, metro rail and deep sea port.
The inclusion came at the third meeting of the Fast Track Project Monitoring Committee at the Prime Ministers’ Office.
Chairing the meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the ministries concerned to implement the projects in time. Once implemented the projects would reshape the country's economic outlook, improve communication and accelerate GDP growth.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri said the meeting reviewed the progress of the projects.
Under the $ 4.6 billion Matarbari coal fired power plant project, there will be two coal-based power plants each having power generation capacity of 600 mw. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by June 2023, according to the project documents.
The capacity of the power plant would be raised to 10,000 MW gradually. The Dohazari-Cox's Bazar- Gundum rail line would be extended to Matarbari from the Pekua point.
On August 12 last year, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the country's most expensive Matarbari project.
Already, some 1,500 acres of land have been acquired for the project while the appointment of consultant for the project is at the final stage. Besides, work for erecting boundary fencing surrounding the acquired land is undergoing, according to an official document. The third seaport of the country will be built on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis.
The Paira Port Authority has stated that around TK 15,000 Crores will be required to complete the infrastructural part of the construction process. The entire project will take 5 to 7 years for completion.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in November 2013 formally inaugurated the Paira seaport and last year in October she invited Dubai Port World authorities to conduct a feasibility study on constructing a deep seaport at Paira.