Thaindian News

Dhaka, July 21 (IANS) India and Bangladesh have finalised 14 infrastructure projects, including those that will enhance connectivity between the two countries, which will be implemented with an Indian loan of $1 billion.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a line of credit of $1 billion during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in January for a range of projects including railway infrastructure, supply of broad guage locomotives and passenger coaches and dredging of rivers.

Bangladeshi officials said Tuesday that Dhaka submitted 29 projects for utilising the $1 billion loan. Of them, the two sides at a recent meeting held in New Delhi reviewed the 29 projects and finalised 14 for implementation, Daily Star reported Wednesday.

Most of the projects are for development of railway infrastructure in Bangladesh.

Officials say the projects have been sent to the planning ministry for final approval. After the ministry’s clearance, the finance ministries of the two countries will sign a loan agreement to utilise the loan.

These projects include:

- procurement of six high-powered dredgers for $71.7 million. One of the dredgers will be used for dredging at Mongla Port, three for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and two for Bangladesh Water Development Board.

– an internal container port at Ashuganj at a cost of $36.2 million. Bangladesh and India have signed an agreement under which Ashuganj in Bangladesh and Silghat in India have been declared ports of call.

– 10 locomotive engines will be available to Bangladesh Railway at a cost of $35.5 million. Dhaka will also purchase 125 broad gauge passenger coaches for $53.6 million.

– India will construct a railway bridge on river Titas costing $120 million.

– Dhaka will buy 300 double-decker buses for $30 million and 50 luxury buses costing $6 million.

– A power gridline will be set up for $158 million; a 400 KV inter-connector will be set up from Bahrampur in India to Bheramara in Bangladesh.