442MW solar plant among 13 projects get nod
ECNEC Clears 13 Projects Worth Tk 16,207.55 Crore
Thebangladaily.com – Bangladesh’s development programme has received a fresh boost after the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved 13 projects with a combined value of Tk 16,207.55 crore. The package includes a major solar power facility in Rampal, new locomotives for Bangladesh Railway and a substantial revision to an urban infrastructure scheme.
Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting on Wednesday at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Secretariat. The approved initiatives span energy, transport and local infrastructure, reflecting plans to strengthen public services and expand productive capacity in several regions.
Government financing will provide Tk 10,600.80 crore of the total cost. Project loans are expected to contribute Tk 4,081.85 crore, while implementing organisations will supply Tk 1,524.91 crore from their own resources.
Rampal Solar Plant Moves Forward
One of the key approvals was a Tk 2,498.07 crore project for a 442-megawatt peak solar power plant in Rampal. The facility is planned for implementation from September 2026 until March 2029.
Loans and grants tied to the project will account for Tk 2,123.37 crore. The implementing organisation is set to provide the remaining Tk 374.71 crore from its own funds.
The project is significant because solar generation can add electricity capacity without relying on conventional fuel-based generation. A plant of this scale would also make Rampal an important location in the country’s expanding renewable-energy programme once construction and commissioning are completed.
Its timeline places the work over more than two years, leaving scope for the usual stages of project delivery, including site preparation, equipment installation and grid-related arrangements. The approval establishes the financial and administrative basis for moving the plan into implementation.
New Locomotives for Bangladesh Railway
ECNEC also approved a Tk 2,769.86 crore project to buy 30 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives for Bangladesh Railway. The initiative is intended to increase the railway’s operational capacity and is scheduled to run from July 2026 through December 2029.
The government will finance Tk 811.38 crore of this project, with the remaining Tk 1,958.48 crore coming through project financing.
Locomotives are central to the reliability of rail operations because they determine how much rolling stock can be pulled and how frequently services can be operated. Additional units may help support rail operations across metre-gauge routes, where the availability and condition of locomotives can directly affect service planning.
The procurement forms part of a broader need to maintain and strengthen transport capacity as passenger and freight movement continue to depend on a mix of road, rail and waterway connections. The approved project focuses specifically on the acquisition of the 30 diesel-electric locomotives.
Urban Infrastructure Revision Receives Largest Allocation
The biggest individual allocation in the approved package went to the second revision of the second phase of the Important Urban Infrastructure Development Project. The latest revision increases the project cost by Tk 1,310.40 crore, lifting the total revised estimate to Tk 7,039.30 crore.
The project was initially approved at Tk 3,465.50 crore. Its cost later rose to Tk 4,418.50 crore in the first revision, then to Tk 5,728.90 crore in the second revision. The newly approved adjustment adds a further Tk 1,310.40 crore.
The government will meet the full cost of the revised urban infrastructure project. The repeated revisions show the scale of the programme and the importance attached to completing planned infrastructure work in urban areas.
Urban infrastructure projects generally influence the services residents use every day, from local connectivity to facilities that support growing communities. The ECNEC decision confirms additional public funding for the second phase as the project proceeds under its revised cost structure.
Rural Development Plan for Three Districts
A separate project worth Tk 3,767.50 crore was approved to improve rural infrastructure in Sirajganj, Bogura and Naogaon. The government will fund the entire amount.
Implementation is scheduled from October 2026 to June 2030. The project places three northern districts at the centre of a multi-year infrastructure effort, with the aim of improving rural facilities in the designated areas.
Rural infrastructure is closely linked to daily access to markets, education, health services and local transport. Investment in this area can improve how communities connect with economic opportunities and essential services, although the eventual benefits will depend on effective execution over the project period.
Mix of New, Revised and Extended Projects
Of the 13 projects approved at the meeting, 10 are new initiatives. Two are revised projects, while one involves an extension of its implementation period.
The funding mix illustrates the different ways large public projects are financed. Government allocations remain the principal source, but loans, grants and contributions from implementing bodies also have roles in selected schemes. For the solar plant, for example, project loans and grants make up most of the cost, while the railway procurement relies heavily on project financing.
Together, the decisions cover immediate project approvals as well as changes to programmes already underway. The next focus will be on implementation schedules, financial management and delivery of the approved works within their stated timeframes.
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