Dhaka Elevated Expressway to partially open on Sept 2

Dhaka Elevated Expressway’s airport to Farmgate section will be inaugurated on September 2.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the elevated expressway,” Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Monday during a press briefing at Setu Bhaban in Dhaka.

He also said the prime minister will inaugurate the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel (or Karnaphuli Tunnel) on October 28.

Quader said traffic will be allowed on the expressway a day after inauguration.

If the first phase of the expressway – from Kawla to Farmgate – is opened, traffic congestion will be eased to a large extent, the minister hoped.

The authorities have set the speed limit at 60km while motorbikes and bicycles will not be allowed on the expressway.

Meanwhile, 98% construction of the section of Dhaka Elevated Expressway has been completed. All important engineering works are at the very last stage.

As per project details, the first contract was signed on January 19, 2011 and the reviewed agreement was signed on December 15, 2013, and the project completion period was from July 2011 to June 2024.

The total length of the elevated expressway is 46.73km including 19.73km of the main elevated part.

The Dhaka Elevated Expressway will cover Kawla, Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Kamalapur, Sayedabad, Jatrabari to Qutubkhali on Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

The Bangabandhu tunnel is being built at a cost of Tk 10,374 crore. It’s the first tunnel in South Asia which is being built under a river.

Through the Karnaphuli Tunnel, the government is aiming to make Chattogram “One City, Two Towns” like China’s Shanghai. China is providing all the technical and financial assistance to the project. Currently, firefighting, lighting and control management systems are being installed inside the tunnel. Besides, 52 irrigation pumps are also being installed so that rising water level during monsoon and natural disasters does not block the tunnel, said project officials.

The project is being implemented by Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA).

Two tubes adjoining the tunnel have been built under the Karnaphuli river. Lights, pumps and drainage systems are being installed in the tunnel simultaneously while A 772m flyover has also been built.