Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway: 40 million people will be benefited

All set to begin construction work of the long-awaited Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway Project (DAEEP) as major challenges are mitigated.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually lay the foundation stone of the construction work of the DAEEP, a mega project of the government.  

According to the development project proposal (DPP) of the project, over 40 million people in 30 districts will benefit once completed the 24km long elevated expressway with 10.83km long ramps in 2026.

The traffic congestion in the northern part of Dhaka city like Savar, Ashulia, Nabinagar and industrial areas adjacent to EPZ will also be eased, as per DPP.

“Once the project is implemented in 2026, traffic congestion in the Abdullahpur-Ashulia-Bypail-Chandra corridor, which connects Dhaka city to 30 districts, will be greatly reduced,” said Shahabuddin Khan, project director of DAEEP.

“Some pre-construction works like land development, instrument purchase started earlier. Now main construction work of the project will begin with the lay of the foundation stone by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.

Major challenges are mitigated

Although the project was scheduled to begin in 2017 and finish in 2022, uncertainty over the loan, difficulties in land acquisition, Covid-19 restrictions, and an increase in the price of construction materials pushed back the construction of the expressway.

However, according to the officials of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), the implementing agency of the expressway, all the major challenges like uncertainty over the loan, and difficulties in land acquisition have already been mitigated.  

BBA and Finance Division officials said Bangladesh and China have already signed an agreement of USD 1126.99 million for the construction of the elevated expressway project. China's Exim Bank will provide the fund to the Bangladesh government as preferential buyer's credit (PBC).

“Fund is available now to do the construction work. Similarly, over 95% of land acquisition for the project is done,” said Shahabuddin Khan, project director.

According to the BBA, the total project cost of the DAEEP was estimated at Tk16,901crore where China Exim Bank will pay Tk10,950crore and the government will pay Tk5,951crore as a loan. It was scheduled to be implemented by 2022.

However, as the beginning of the project is delayed, construction cost is eye-rocket by this time. Thus, the BBA has revised the estimated cost to 17,541crore.

“The government has already approved the revised proposal for the project as it is a priority project,” said Shahabuddin Khan, project director.

A dream project

The DAEEP is a dream project for many people as it will allow traffic between Northern and Southern districts to operate by avoiding overcrowded roads in the capital and its suburbs.

The expressway will begin from Dhaka EPZ and continue to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA). Then another elevated expressway, Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project (DEEP) will meet the DAEEP.

The DEEP project will be a 20km stretch from HSIA to Kutubkhal point on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

The two expressways comprising 44km in total will save commuters four to five hours during their journey through Dhaka or in some cases even more.

“A 14km long four-lane highway between Dour and Ashulia is also included in the DAEEP which also may smooth the traffic,” said Shahabuddin Khan.

Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway will be completed by 2026 to reduce traffic jam in Dhaka.