RAJSHAHI: The Roads and Highway Department (RHD) has been implementing various infrastructure development schemes involving around Taka 4,742.73 crore in the zone, reports BSS.
Works of six important projects were completed at a cost of around Taka 456.24 crore during the last five fiscals till June last contributing a lot towards improving road communication in the zone.
Implementation works of another Taka 4,286.49 crore projects are progressing at present, said Abu Rawshan, Additional Chief Engineer of RHD, while talking to BSS on Thursday.
Construction works of a 12.50-km Shaheed Monsur Ali road from Pipulbaria to Dhunat via Sonamukhi was completed after spending Taka 67.94 crore.
Reconstruction and widening works of a 51.626-km road from Kansat to Vholahat via Rohanpur was also completed at a cost of Taka 31.50 crore.
Development works of 24.58-km road including a 263-meter bridge of Naogaon-Badalgachhi-Patnitala, 67.59-kilometer Patnitala-Shapahar-Rohanpur and Godagari-Amnura-Nachole-Parbatipur-Adda roads were implemented at a total cost of around Taka 247.06 crore.
Besides, district road development project has been executed with an estimated cost of Taka 109.75 crore in the zone comprising of Rajshahi, Chapainawabgonj, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna and Sirajgonj district, Engineer Rawshan added.
Currently, implementation works of pavement widening project including median of the Natore town’s main road from Harishpur bypass crossing to Banbelghoria bypass crossing is underway with an estimated cost of around Taka 58.33 crore.
“We are developing 74-km important regional highways maintaining standard and widening at an estimated cost of around Taka 439 crore,” he said adding that finishing works of the unfinished 19.5-km Naogaon-Atrai-Natore highway is progressing at a cost of Taka 201.29 crore.
Four-lane and the rest two-lane elevation works of 21.74-km portion of the Nolka-Sirajgonj-Soidabad regional highway is going on involving Taka 264.26 crore.
Projects for construction of 266.57-meter Ullapara Railway Overpass in Sirajgonj and 81.97-km one regional and two district highways in Naogaon involving Taka 406.94 crore were already given approval in ECNEC meeting recently.
Construction works of 14 bridges and culverts on different regional and national highways are progressing with a total cost of around Taka 17.63 crore under periodic maintenance programme.
Apart from, repairing and maintenance works of 152.892-km roads were either completed or nearing completion involving around Taka 1.91 crore under 13 packages of periodic maintenance programme.
Roadside tree plantation activities on the improved roads are progressing successfully that will ultimately help reduce carbon emission to a substantial level and that is very important to face the adverse impact of climate change here including its vast Barind tract.
Engineer Abu Rawshan said that the implemented projects have started contributing enormously to raising standard of living and the ongoing schemes will supplement the process upon successful completion.