Photo : Collected
The ongoing project of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) aims to cover 1,696.66 kilometers of rural roads, including 1.538 kilometers of bridges and culverts, to uplift the region's socio-economic status through comprehensive infrastructure development.
Under the project titled "Rajshahi Division Rural Infrastructure Development," the specific objectives include enhancing rural communication networks to support both farm and non-farm economies. The focus is on upgrading the quality of life for rural residents by providing easier access to essential service centers such as schools and hospitals.
KM Zulfikar Ali, additional chief engineer, provided project details, noting the construction of 172.9 kilometers of upazila roads with 140-meter bridges, 367.76 kilometers of union roads with 636-meter bridges, and 1,156 kilometers of village roads, including 762-meter bridges. The five-year project, with a budget of Tk 2,080.40 crore, spans 58 upazilas across Pabna, Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Bogura, and Joypurhat districts.
The ultimate goals of the scheme are to generate short- and long-term employment opportunities in both the farm and non-farm sectors, with the aim of reducing poverty by involving rural communities in various economic and social activities. The project also includes the construction of growth centers, school connecting roads, culverts, and RCC roads.
Zulfikar Ali emphasized the widening of 327.59 kilometers of roads, along with the repair of 171.07 kilometers of village roads and 240.45 kilometers of upazila roads. The initiative also encompasses infrastructure development for rural markets, aiming to reduce transport costs, improve marketing systems, and enhance production and marketing facilities for agricultural products.
To address environmental concerns, a tree plantation program along the roads is underway, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. This initiative is seen as crucial in mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change in the vast Barind tract.
The overall impact of the rural infrastructure development project is expected to reduce transport costs, improve marketing systems, and boost production and marketing facilities for agricultural products. Chairman of Godagari upazila Parishad, Jahangir Alam, highlighted the positive effects on rural accessibility, transport, and market services.
Chairman of Badhair Union Parishad under Tanore Upazila, Ataur Rahman said, "We are very much hopeful about the project that will infuse dynamism into rural socio-economic activities together with bringing a positive change in livelihood of grassroots people.
Associate Professor Tariqul Islam of the Department of Economics in Rajshahi University said, "Improvement of rural infrastructure is always helpful towards easing and improving living and livelihood conditions of the rural public in general".
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