Vital expressway snails

Star Report
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The proposed elevated expressway stretching from Shahjalal International Airport to Dhaka-Chittagong highway is a long-term traffic solution with an additional road facility.

Though it will mostly cater to the need of motor vehicles, it will ease the heavy load of traffic on the existing roads.

It is expected to improve transportation links with the important residential and commercial hubs in the capital.

But several incomplete preparatory works have slowed down its implementation, though the concessionaire was supposed to start construction work latest by July, six months from signing of the agreement and complete it within three and a half years.

The expressway route runs from Shahjalal International Airport through Kuril, Banani, Tejgaon, Moghbazar and Kamalapur Railway Station over the existing rail track.

Then it passes through Golapbagh and east of Jatrabari to connect Dhaka-Chittagong highway near Kutubkhali.

The concessionaire will hand it over to the government after 25 years.

The construction cost of the box type elevated road has been estimated at Tk 8,703 crores, of which the government will contribute 27 percent. The concessionaire will invest the rest of the amount.