The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has approved a proposal to lease 120 acres at the Jamuna Bridge site for a 55-megawatt solar power plant. The decision was taken at the authority’s 117th board meeting, held Thursday afternoon in the conference room of Setu Bhaban. Under the decision, the land will be leased to Northwest Power Generation Company Limited for construction of the solar facility.

The authority said the proposed plant would support environmentally friendly and sustainable energy production. The board also approved a proposal to prepare an integrated master plan that includes installing solar panels across the Bridge Authority’s operational area. The initiative is being viewed as part of the government’s green employment and renewable-energy efforts.

The meeting additionally decided to revise the existing policy for allocating flats in rehabilitation villages to families affected by construction of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. It approved establishment of the Center for Bridge Research and Training to support professional knowledge, skills development, research, construction and maintenance of major infrastructure. Board chairman Sheikh Rabiul Alam directed relevant officials and authorities to implement all decisions quickly and transparently.