Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday will virtually lay the foundation stone for the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway Project (DAEEP), officially beginning the construction phase of the mega project.
According to the development project proposal of the project, over 40 million people in 30 districts will benefit once the 24km-long elevated expressway, with 10.83km of ramps, is completed in 2026.
Traffic congestion in the northern parts of Dhaka city, including Savar, Ashulia, Nabinagar, and industrial areas adjacent to the EPZ, will be eased, as per the proposal.
“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 such as land development and instrument purchase started earlier. Now the project's main construction work will begin with the laying of the foundation stone by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
Major challenges mitigated
Although the project was scheduled to begin in 2017 and finish in 2022, uncertainty over loans, 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 have now been mitigated.
BBA and Finance Division officials said Bangladesh and China have already signed a $1126.99 million agreement over the construction of DAEEP. China's Exim Bank will provide funds to the Bangladesh government as preferential buyer's credit (PBC).
“Funds are available now to do the construction work. Similarly, over 95% of land acquisition for the project is done,” said Project Director Shahabuddin Khan.
According to the BBA, the total project cost of the DAEEP has been estimated at Tk16,901 crore, with China Exim Bank set to pay Tk10,950crore and the government Tk5,951crore as a loan.
However, following delays to the beginning of the project, construction costs have skyrocketed. The BBA has revised the estimated cost to Tk17,541crore.
“The government has already approved the revised proposal for the project as it is a priority project,” Shahabuddin Khan added.
A dream project
The DAEEP is a dream project for many people as it will allow traffic between Northern and Southern districts to run without overcrowding roads in the capital and its suburbs.
The expressway will begin from Dhaka EPZ and continue to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where it will meet the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.
The Dhaka Elevated Expressway will run over a 20km stretch from the airport to Kutubkhal point on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
The two expressways, a total 44km in length, will save commuters four to five hours, usually lost in Dhaka city traffic.
“A 14km long four-lane highway between Dour and Ashulia is also included in the DAEEP, which also may smooth traffic,” said Shahabuddin Khan.
Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway will be completed by 2026 to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka.