Two new service bridges have been opened to traffic along the Dhaka-Ashulia corridor, offering relief to commuters and freight operators who have long faced severe congestion in the area.
Constructed along a 3.71-kilometre stretch between Dhowr Mor and Ashulia under the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project, the two-lane bridges were opened to traffic on Wednesday.
The bridges will be toll-free, providing an alternative route for residents of Ashulia and Dhowr as well as vehicles travelling to and from the northern and northwestern regions.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam inaugurated the bridges around 11am in the Dhowr-Ashulia area.
Vehicles began using the new route immediately after the inauguration, with all types of vehicles allowed to cross the bridges.
Project officials said the existing road from Ashulia Bazar to the Dhowr embankment will eventually be removed to ensure uninterrupted water flow through the Turag River. Traffic will then use the newly constructed service bridges.
Motorists will not have to pay any toll to cross the Turag River using the new route. Unlike the main elevated expressway, which will operate under a toll system, the two service bridges will remain toll-free.
Ashulia is one of the busiest entry points to Dhaka, with large numbers of passenger and freight vehicles travelling between the capital and the area every day.
The corridor also serves as a key link between Dhaka, Ashulia's industrial belt, the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) and the northern and northwestern regions.
Residents and drivers expressed hope that the new bridges would ease long-standing congestion and reduce travel times.
Pickup van driver Saiful Islam said motorists previously had to spend long periods stuck in traffic along the route.
“With the new bridges open, I hope we will be able to reach our destinations more quickly,” he said.
Ashulia resident Dipankar Das said people had faced considerable difficulties travelling through the area for years.
“We hope traffic congestion will decrease significantly now that the new bridges are open,” he said.
Another resident, Babul Hossain, said improved connectivity would help address Ashulia's persistent traffic problems.
He hoped travel between Uttara and Ashulia would become easier, particularly during peak hours.
At the inauguration ceremony, Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam described the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway as an important infrastructure project.
“The project had become stalled at one point. After the current government took office, we considered its importance and took the necessary steps, including ensuring allocations for the project,” he said.
The minister said around 65%-70% of the overall project work has been completed.
“Over the past six months, progress has exceeded the targets that had been set. Another section of the project will be completed by December. We hope to complete the entire project within the next year,” he said.
He identified the relocation of utility lines as a major challenge to implementation, saying coordination had been undertaken with the relevant authorities to expedite the relocation of electricity, gas and other utility lines.
The project director and other officials have also been provided with necessary support and guidance to accelerate implementation, he said.
The 24-kilometre Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway is being constructed to improve connectivity between Dhaka and the northern and northwestern regions of the country.
Once completed, the expressway will connect Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Abdullahpur, Ashulia, Baipayl and DEPZ, facilitating faster movement to and from the capital.
According to project officials, more than 40 million people in around 30 districts across the northern and northwestern regions are expected to benefit directly or indirectly from the project.
Besides reducing travel time for passengers and freight, the project is expected to play a significant role in easing congestion along the Dhaka-Ashulia corridor.
The project includes 24km of elevated expressway, 10.834km of ramps, 16.58km of at-grade roads and a 4.05km Baipayl Trumpet Interchange.
It also includes two bridges with a combined length of 7.42km.
Construction began on November 12, 2022, nearly five years after the project received approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Implementation remained slow for an extended period due to various complications, increasing the suffering of residents of Ashulia and surrounding areas. The pace later accelerated after steps were taken to expedite the work.
According to the approved second revised Development Project Proforma (DPP), the project period runs from September 1, 2017, to June 30, 2030.
Following the second revision, the estimated project cost has risen to Tk27,045 crore 68 lakh, around 54.1% higher than the previous estimate.
Project documents estimate that the completed Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway could contribute 0.217% to the country's GDP.
The project is expected to ease congestion at Ashulia, one of Dhaka's busiest entry points, while significantly improving connectivity between the capital and the northern and northwestern regions.
