The work of upgrading Dhaka Bypass Road to four lane access control express is progressing at a fast pace. The CEO and Secretary of the project on Sunday inspected the progress of the 48 km long Dhaka Bypass Expressway project.
The public-private partnership authority is working relentlessly to implement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s development dream, the company’s chief executive officer said. The implementing company informed him that the work would be completed by 2024 and the financial closing would be completed by early August.
The construction time of the expressway project is 3 years. The company that invested in the project told a meeting of the Department of Roads and Highways in March that construction was underway with a target of 10 percent physical progress by June 30, 2021. According to the PPP agreement, loan agreements have been signed between financial institutions and private partners to finance the project. The project company Dhaka Bypass Expressway Development Company Limited is carrying out other relevant works including construction work after overcoming the initial hurdles after Covid.
Once the project is completed, bus trucks and other vehicles can easily enter the western part of the country without entering Dhaka city. The project will help in reducing traffic congestion inside Dhaka city and establish road connectivity with safe and modern facilities which will play an important role in increasing the overall trade and commerce of the country.
On June 22, ECNEC approved a revised government-funded project worth Tk 674.74 crore. Note that the money for this revised project will be spent mainly on land acquisition, rehabilitation and consultancy. There is no room for increase in the cost of the original PPP project after the agreement.
During the visit there were PPP Authority Director General Abul Bashar, Director Anwar Hossain, Project Director and private associates or private partners and senior officials. It is going to be implemented under the first public-private partnership project of the Department of Roads and Highways.
