The long-awaited Purbachal expressway, from Kuril flyover point in Dhaka to Kanchan Bridge in Narayanganj, is expected to open for traffic in December this year as more than 85% of the construction work has been completed.
According to project officials, the 8-lane expressway with service roads and canals will be one of the most attractive expressways in Southeast Asia. The 12.5km expressway is being constructed at a cost of more than Tk14,000 crore, making it the most expensive bridge in the country in terms of construction cost per kilometer.
The expressway will not have any stopover points, traffic signals, or any other obstacles, so vehicles can run its entire length in as little as six or seven minutes. It is expected to ease road communication between the capital, Chittagong, and Sylhet.
It will be connected to the Dhaka bypass to ease northbound travel.
Purbachal Expressway Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneThe Bangladesh Army is constructing the expressway under the supervision of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (Rajuk).
“The work is progressing very fast and we are set to open the expressway for traffic in December,” said Ujjwal Mallick, chief engineer (implementation) of Rajuk.
He added that the construction of some components, such as the digging of canals, will continue even after the expressway is inaugurated. Work on the canals is progressing slowly due to complexities in land acquisition.
The canals, about 100ft wide, will be dug on both sides of the expressway. Service roads with multiple lanes will run by both canals.
“The picture of the whole area will change once the expressway is opened for traffic,” Ujjwal Mallick added.
During a recent visit to the project area, heavy machinery, including cranes, loaders, lifters, dredgers, and excavators, were seen working on expressway.
A new attraction for people
According to the officials, the expressway was redesigned with five intersections which will serve as the main attraction of the expressway.
Construction of the intersections is almost complete. Expressway users will use underground parts of the intersections, while service lane users will move through the above-ground parts of the intersection. The intersections are the first of their kind in South Asia.
Purbachal Expressway Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneAccording to the project documents, there are 13 arch bridges, 10 large bridges, 4km of drains, two culverts, and 12 water bus stands along the canals.
The charming pedestrian bridges across the canals will mainly attract tourists. They can enjoy the beauty of the entire project by using the bridge. Water buses will run on both sides of the canal, which will be launched mainly for tourists. Green walkways will be constructed on both sides of the canal.
More than 40,000 tourists are expected to visit the bridge each day.
“It is not only for the safe and reliable communication of east-west of Dhaka, but also for entertainment and to make the area beautiful,” said Ujjal Mallick.
100-foot canals to reduce waterlogging
According to the project documents, the canals on the sides of the expressway will help reduce waterlogging.
Apart from 100-foot canals, the project includes renovation of the Dumni, Boalia, and AD-8 canals. These canals can reduce waterlogging in West Dhaka, including in Nikunj-1, Nikunj-2, Jorsahara, Cantonment, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Kalachandpur, Kaola, and Bashundhara residential area.
The project is a revised version of the Excavation and development of 100 feet wide canal on both sides of Kuril-Purbachal Link Road project passed in 2015.
The estimated cost of the project in 2015 was Tk 5,286.91 crore. Due to the addition of three more canals, roads, bridges, and other components, the cost of the revised project increased to more than Tk14,000 crore.
