Workers are filling up both sides of the existing two-lane highway in Madaripur for the project Photo: Dhaka TribuneExperts believe the express highway will improve connectivity and communication between the southern districts with the rest of the country and lead to its socio-economic development.
“This highway will allow very fast transit between the capital and Mongla and Payra seaports, as well as better connect the comparatively disconnected southern part of Bangladesh with the rest of the country. As a result, the standard of living of locals in the area is likely to improve and there will be greater socio-economic development,” said Khan Md Shahid, a member of Transparency International Bangladesh's Madaripur Citizens Awareness Committee.
Lt Col Kabir Uddin Sikder, additional planning director of the Jatrabari-Bhanga part of the project, told reporters that a number of contractors were working on this project under the supervision of Bangladesh Army.
The contractors include Abdul Monem Ltd, China Anhui Company, China Harbour and NDE, among others.
“The project is set to be completed by April 2019. So far, every project executed by the army has been completed before the deadline, so we expect the same for this one,” Kabir said.The 55km express highway – 20km from Shibchar, Madaripur to Bhanga, Faridpur on one side of Padma River, and 35km from Bhanga to Jatrabari, Dhaka on the other – is going to be the first express highway of the country.
Construction is in full swing on the stretch of the road between Jatrabari and Bhanga area, with an estimated cost of Tk6,700 crore. Construction work between Shibchar and Bhanga is in progress as well.
The project includes 16 culverts, seven small bridges, two large bridges, two flyovers, and one railway over-bridge.
Four of the six lanes are meant for fast-moving vehicles while the other two will be for slow-moving local vehicles, sources said.
Locals believe that besides improving general communication and traffic flow, the highway will also help to bring down the rate of road accidents.
“We are pleased to see so much activity here on such a grand highway. We are hopeful that the highway will help prevent accidents,” said Apurba Chowdhury, a local resident.
Workers are filling up both sides of the existing two-lane highway in Madaripur for the project Photo: Dhaka TribuneExperts believe the express highway will improve connectivity and communication between the southern districts with the rest of the country and lead to its socio-economic development.
“This highway will allow very fast transit between the capital and Mongla and Payra seaports, as well as better connect the comparatively disconnected southern part of Bangladesh with the rest of the country. As a result, the standard of living of locals in the area is likely to improve and there will be greater socio-economic development,” said Khan Md Shahid, a member of Transparency International Bangladesh's Madaripur Citizens Awareness Committee.
Lt Col Kabir Uddin Sikder, additional planning director of the Jatrabari-Bhanga part of the project, told reporters that a number of contractors were working on this project under the supervision of Bangladesh Army.
The contractors include Abdul Monem Ltd, China Anhui Company, China Harbour and NDE, among others.
“The project is set to be completed by April 2019. So far, every project executed by the army has been completed before the deadline, so we expect the same for this one,” Kabir said.
Workers are filling up both sides of the existing two-lane highway in Madaripur for the project Photo: Dhaka TribuneExperts believe the express highway will improve connectivity and communication between the southern districts with the rest of the country and lead to its socio-economic development.
“This highway will allow very fast transit between the capital and Mongla and Payra seaports, as well as better connect the comparatively disconnected southern part of Bangladesh with the rest of the country. As a result, the standard of living of locals in the area is likely to improve and there will be greater socio-economic development,” said Khan Md Shahid, a member of Transparency International Bangladesh's Madaripur Citizens Awareness Committee.
Lt Col Kabir Uddin Sikder, additional planning director of the Jatrabari-Bhanga part of the project, told reporters that a number of contractors were working on this project under the supervision of Bangladesh Army.
The contractors include Abdul Monem Ltd, China Anhui Company, China Harbour and NDE, among others.
“The project is set to be completed by April 2019. So far, every project executed by the army has been completed before the deadline, so we expect the same for this one,” Kabir said.