Dhaka expressway work begins August 16
The construction of the much-delayed Dhaka-Chittagong elevated expressway will begin on August 16, according to a road transport ministry release yesterday.
The release said road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader had made the announcement in Thailand during a meeting with Premchai Karmasuta, chairman of the Ital-Thai company that has won the contract for the project.
The work on the expressway has missed three deadlines. In December 2014, Ital-Thai had refused to start work unless the government gave final confirmation about land acquisition. Earlier, work was delayed due to funds crisis.
Quoting the minister, the release said: The first phase of the project connecting the airport to Banani could not be started because of a complication in acquiring1.4 acres of land at Kuril. But now the problem has been solved and construction work will start on August 16.
In January 2011, the government had signed an agreement with the Bangkok-based construction company to build the four-lane expressway at a cost of Tk. 8,703 crore under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.
After continuous funds crisis, Ital-Thai had entered into a USD1.062 billion contract with China Railway Construction Corporation last year to build the elevated expressway.
The proposed 20-km expressway will start from Shahjalal International Airport and runs along Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Moghbazar to Kamalapur Railway Station and then connect to the Dhaka-Chittagong highway near Kutubkhali via Jatrabari.
The minister said the expressway will significantly reduce traffic congestion in the capital. People will be able to travel faster and transport goods without interruption, he added.
