The government yesterday signed a deal with a Chinese firm to construct the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route from Shahjalal International Airport to Gazipur, reports UNB. Project Director of Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project Ekram Ullah and Managing Director of Chinese company Gezhouba Group Young Romen inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides at a city hotel. Gazhouba will construct a 16-km BRT lane, 32-km footpath and a separate lane for slow-moving vehicles for the 20.50-km project at a cost of Tk 855.37 crore.
The construction work will end within the next 30 months. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq were, among others, present at the signing ceremony. On June 26, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction work on the Bus Rapid Transit route. The BRT system was designed to reduce traffic jam in capital Dhaka and adjacent areas through a dedicated bus route on Gazipur-Airport-Jhilmil route. There will be 25 stations, six flyovers, 4.50km elevated BRT lane from Uttara to Tongi and 16km flat grade on the route. Eighteen metres long 100 articulated buses will run on the route. There will be an electronic smart card system for collecting bus fare.