Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said the construction work for the 26-km Dhaka Elevated Expressway-from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway-will start towards the end of this month.
Italian-Thai Development Public Limited will construct the project on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis. The estimated cost of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway is Tk 9,000 crore, he said at a press briefing after a meeting at the Ministry.
The route of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway is Dhaka International Airport-Kuril-Banani-Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Satrasta-Moghbazar Rail Corridor-Khilgaon-Kamalapur-Golapbagh-Kutubkhali on Dhaka-Chittagong highway, said the Minister.
Talking about the progress of the Padma Bridge, he said three shipments of equipment for bridge construction have already reached Mawa Ghat, while another shipment of equipment is on the way.
Obaidul Quader said, the people enjoyed “safe and comfortable journey” during this Eid-ul-Azha. “Compared to other years, Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Mawa and Dhaka-Sylhet routes were free from traffic jam.”
He, however, regretted any sufferings that the people had to undergo on the highways during their home journey to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha with the near and dear ones.
About charging extra fare, the Road Transport Minister said a review meeting will be held with the Transport Owners and Workers Association in this regard and action will be taken if anyone is found involved in such illegal acts.
He claimed that only 26 people have been killed in road accidents during this Eid-ul-Azha, while the death toll was 96 during the last Eid-ul-Fitr.
