Dhaka-Ctg highway to be 4-lane by June 2013
Construction work for turning Dhaka-Chittagong national highway into four lanes is going on in full swing with a target of finishing the job ahead of December 2013 deadline.
Official sources said 16 percent of this project had already been completed in the past six months after signing the agreements with three companies on January 10 this year.
“We are expecting that the highway [Dhaka-Chittagong] will be upgraded to four-lane by June 30, 2013, which was earlier scheduled for December 2013,” Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossian said yesterday.
The minister said all the hurdles to major projects in communication sector, including the four-lane highway, Padma Bridge and elevated expressway, were removed to develop the country's infrastructure.
“People will soon see significant development in communication sector as implementation of some projects are going on in full swing when some projects in the pipeline are being considered on priority basis”, he said.
Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways (R&H) Department Shahabuddin said the biggest barrier to the Dhaka-Chittagong highway development was land acquisition, which was resolved.
Besides, he said the project involves constructions of six major bridges, three flyovers, two underpasses, 21 small and medium bridges, 196 culverts, 33 steel foot over bridges and six bus stoppages between Daudkandi toll bridge to Chittagong city gate.
Shahabuddin said 14 culverts have already been built and clearing and grooving of 92 kilometers of the 192 kilometers highway project completed and 48 more culverts would be built in two months.
He said development and maintenance of 26 kilometers of the highway on the part of Chittagong have also been completed and the job for the rest 166 kilometers would be done within the next dry season.
Apart from these huge tasks, 10 more connecting roads and three bridges will also be constructed for this four-lane highway, he said.
“The highway will be ready by June 2013 if the progress of work continues at the current pace,” Shahabuddin said.
Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation Ltd was awarded the work of seven road packages while two other local firms -- Reza Construction and TBL-ACL-JV -- were given the works of three other road packages of Tk 1,655 crore project.
The four-party alliance government in 2005 approved in principle the proposal of the project.
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