The projects were approved at a meeting at the NEC auditorium yesterday with Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman in the chair.

The approved projects are Gas Supply Project to AES Meghnaghat 450-megawatt Power Station (revised) under Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Greater Rajshahi Power Distribution Project (phase 2, revised) under Power Division, introducing naval route around Dhaka city, first phase: navigation development and providing landing facilities from Sadarghat to Ashulia bridge (revised), under the Shipping Ministry, Road Renovation and Maintenance Project (revised) under Communications Ministry.

The projects also include Chandpur Town Protection Project-second phase (revised) and Extension of 59/2 Polder (revised) under Water Resources Ministry, Development of Union Parishad Link Road in Patuakhali and Barguna District under Local Government Department, Building Construction and Modernisation of Atomic Treatment Centre, Dhaka and Modern Novo Theater (revised) Project under Science and Information and Communications Technology Ministry, Primary Education Development (Ideal) Project (revised) under Primary and Mass Education Ministry and Technical Training Project for Unemployed Youths under Youth and Sports Ministry.

Also present at the meeting were LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Industries Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami, Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda, Agriculture Minister MK Anwar, Post and Telecommunications Minister Barrister Aminul Haq, Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain, Science and Information and Communication Technology Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources AKM Mosharref Hossain and State Minister for Power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud.

Cabinet Secretaries, members of Planning Commission, secretaries of the concerned ministry and high officials were also present, said an official release.