2nd expressway, airport expansion get approval

2nd expressway, airport expansion get approval

The government approved on Tuesday the capital’s second elevated expressway project from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to Ashulia at a cost of Tk 169 billion.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) also endorsed expansion of HSIA at a cost of Tk 136.1 billion, officials said.
Presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the ECNEC meeting at the Planning Commission in the capital approved the two projects along with three others at a total cost of Tk 345.67 billion.
The 24-km Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway (DAEE) will connect HSIA and Chandra intersection on Dhaka-Tangail Highway via Ashulia.
The proposed expressway is expected to ease traffic congestion on Abdullahpur-Ashulia-Chandra road, the gateway to as many as 30 districts from the capital.
The government earlier approved the 21-km Dhaka Elevated Expressway from HSIA to Kutubkhali of Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, which is now under construction.
Emerging from the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal said the DAEE will act as one of the drivers of Bangladesh’s economic growth.
It will connect the country’s northern and southern parts with the central part as well as foster balanced economic growth, he told reporters.
The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) will start the project this year, which is expected to be completed by 2022.
The latest feasibility study, conducted last year, has recommended construction of up to 24 km elevated expressway from HSIA to Ashulia, 10.84 km ramp, 1.9 km flyover at Nabinagar intersection, upgradation of existing 14.28 km four-lane Ashulia road, 2.0 km bridge and 18 km drainage and duct construction.
The cabinet committee on government purchase approved the construction contract of the DAEE project a few months back before the ECNEC nod.
The cabinet approved the draft construction proposal of a Chinese contractor – China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), the officials said.
BBA has taken up the DAEE project after the Prime Minister announced a plan to construct the country’s second elevated expressway on Dhaka-Ashulia corridor.
Earlier, a deal was signed in January 2011 to build Dhaka Elevated Expressway, first of its kind in the country, under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The Planning Minister said the ECNEC meeting on Tuesday also endorsed the HSIA expansion project at a cost of Tk 136.1 billion.
Japan will provide Tk 112 billion in loans for the project, while the government will mobilize the rest of the funds from its internal resources.
Under the project, the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh will construct the third terminal of the airport, multi-level car parking with tunnel, new cargo complex, VVIP complex, parking apron at terminal-3 area, and taxiways etc.
The three other infrastructure projects, cleared by ECNEC on the day, are – Upgrading the Comilla-Noakhali regional highway to four-lane project at Tk 21.7 billion cost, Infrastructure development of Balashi and Bahadurabad ferry landing points project at Tk 1.25 billion, and Greater Dhaka Infrastructure Development Project-3 at Tk 1.76 billion.
The ministers, Planning Commission members and high officials of the ministries concerned were present at the ECNEC meeting.