Dhaka: The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has approved the long-term lease of 120 acres of land at the Jamuna Bridge site for the construction of a 55-megawatt solar power plant.
The project aims to expand the use of renewable energy and promote environmentally friendly infrastructure.
The approval came at the 117th board meeting of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority held at the conference room of the Bridges Division, with Road Transport and Bridges Minister and BBA Board Chairman Shaikh Rabiul Alam in the chair.
Under the decision, the 120-acre site at the Jamuna Bridge will be leased to the North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) for the installation of the 55MW solar power plant.
Once implemented, the project is expected to increase the supply of electricity from renewable sources to the national grid and contribute to environmental protection by reducing carbon emissions.
At the beginning of the meeting, Bridges Division Secretary and Bangladesh Bridge Authority Executive Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf presented the agenda and reviewed the progress in implementing previous board decisions.
Following discussions, the board approved several proposals, including the solar power project.
The board also approved a proposal to prepare an integrated master plan for the phased installation of solar panels at various facilities under the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.
In addition, it decided to amend the existing policy for allocating flats in the rehabilitation village to improve the resettlement of families affected by the Dhaka Elevated Expressway construction project.
The meeting also approved the reinstatement of the agreement for operating the BIAM Laboratory School at Diabari in Uttara and decided to establish the Centre for Bridge Research and Training (CBRT) to develop skilled manpower in bridge construction, maintenance and research.
The board further approved an amendment to the Bangladesh Bridge Authority Officers and Employees Welfare Trust Regulations, 2010, replacing the provision for “annual scholarship” with “annual education grant assistance” to make employee welfare benefits more relevant to current needs.
Speaking at the meeting, Shaikh Rabiul Alam said the government is committed to sustainable development, expanding green energy and developing environmentally friendly transport infrastructure.
He said increasing the use of renewable energy alongside infrastructure development is the need of the time and that such projects will play a significant role in achieving that objective.
