Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway approved

KMA Hasnat: The construction work of Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway is expected to begin soon under a direct government-to-government (G-2-G) agreement.

China National Machinery Export and Import Corporation will implement the project with an estimated cost of Tk 12,566.47 crore. The project will be implemented in principle under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway is expected to improve the communication with the northern part of the country.

According to sources, a proposal of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry to construct the elevated expressway was approved after it was placed for approval at the meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase on Wednesday.

Initially, no one showed interest but later seven firms took part in the tender process, according to the sources.

On February 24, 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave verbal instructions to build an elevated expressway on the Dhaka-Ashulia road.

The instructions were given at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council.

A pre-feasibility study of the project was conducted by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2013.

The study started from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and proposed for a 35km elevated expressway and 6.64km ramp from Nabinagar intersection and EPZ to Chandra intersection through Abdullahpur-Ashulia-Baipail.

According to the study, the total estimated expenditure of the project is $1.67 billion.

After completion of various procedures, the China firm submitted a commercial proposal of $1.12 billion without value-added tax or taxes in August 2015.

The Fast Track Project Monitoring Committee, however, decided to appoint a consultant agency in February 2016 through international tenders for conducting feasibility studies.

The consulting firm would submit the final report of feasibility study in August 2016.

The project includes construction of up to 24km elevated expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Ashulia, 3.77km ramp, 710 meter flyover in Nabinagar intersection, upgradation of the existing 15.28km four-lane Ashulia road and construction of drains including two bridges of 27km.

risingbd/Dhaka/Nov 8, 2017/Hasnat/Amirul