Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway to near completion within a year: Minister
The project is expected to ease congestion in Savar, Ashulia, Baipayl, Nabinagar and industrial areas around the Savar EPZ.
The Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project is expected to reach near completion within the next year, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said today (2 September).
Speaking as the chief guest following the inauguration of two 3.71-kilometre service bridges stretching from Dhowr intersection to Ashulia around 10am, he said the extension of the project will be completed soon.
With both service bridges open, traffic from Dhaka towards Baipayl and Ashulia is expected to ease. All vehicles can use the bridges toll-free.
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"This important project will ensure congestion-free connectivity between Dhaka and the country's northwestern region," he said.
The expressway will also provide an elevated route around Dhaka, allowing vehicles to bypass at-grade roads, he added.
The project is expected to ease congestion in Savar, Ashulia, Baipayl, Nabinagar and industrial areas around the Savar EPZ.
It will also speed up the transport of export goods and factory raw materials between the Savar EPZ, the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway (N1), N8 and ports.
Once linked with the Dhaka Elevated Expressway near Kawla, the project will create a 44-kilometre uninterrupted elevated corridor connecting Ashulia-Abdullahpur with Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Kamalapur, Sayedabad, Jatrabari and Kutubkhali.
The project will improve daytime movement of trucks serving industrial areas in Savar, Dhaka EPZ, Kaliakoir and Gazipur.
A grade separator/trumpet interchange at Baipayl will allow uninterrupted movement towards Nabinagar, Chandra and Ashulia-Abdullahpur, reducing congestion at the busy intersection.
Entry and exit ramps at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will also allow vehicles heading to the country's northeastern region to access the airport directly via the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway.
A separate connection to MRT Line-1 stations will also be built to improve public access.
The project is expected to boost the economy, with estimates suggesting it could raise GDP by around 0.217%.
It comprises a 24-kilometre elevated expressway, 10.8 kilometres of ramps at seven locations, 16.58 kilometres of at-grade roads, a 4.05-kilometre Baipayl trumpet interchange and two bridges totalling 7.42 kilometres.
According to the second revised Development Project Proposal (DPP), the project will run from 1 September 2017 to 30 June 2030.
It is being implemented under a government-to-government arrangement with joint financing from Bangladesh and China.
The revised DPP estimates the total cost at Tk27,045.68 crore, with Tk13,803.16 crore (51.06%) financed by the government and Tk13,242.52 crore (48.94%) through a China Exim Bank loan.
China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) is the EPC contractor under the G2G arrangement.
As of July, the project had achieved 66% physical and 56.02% financial progress.
Minister satisfied with progress
The minister said the project had stalled and appeared difficult to implement, but the government took steps to restart it after coming to power.
"Utility shifting was one of the biggest challenges. I regularly followed up on the work and provided necessary support and guidance," he said.
He said the project was extended to Ashulia and Baipayl, requiring additional work and funding, for which a revised DPP was prepared.
The revised DPP aimed to ensure efficient spending and deliver the project's full benefits, he said.
The minister also expressed satisfaction with the project's quality and pace, saying 65-70% of the work had been completed in three and a half years.
"We have extended the project further. While maintaining quality, we completed more work in the past six months than the target set for the period," he said.
Praising the Chinese contractor, the minister said the company had efficiently completed work on time without compromising quality.
Referring to the longstanding Bangladesh-China friendship, he said Chinese technology and investment could significantly improve Bangladesh's infrastructure.
He said the government expected to work with China on infrastructure development, with several mega projects planned in the public interest and in the two countries' mutual interests.
The Chinese government and major Chinese companies have also shown interest in the projects, he said.
