PM opens country’s first-ever expressway

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the country’s first-ever expressway on Jatrabari-Mawa and Patchchar-Bhanga routes.

The premier formally opened the newly-constructed the world class expressway under the Dhaka-Khulna Highway Project through a video-conference from her official Ganabhaban residence on Thursday morning.

The 55-km long expressway having all the modern facilities was constructed aiming to reduce travel time as well as to ensure smooth and comfortable journey of the people of 21 southwestern districts.

The international standard eight-lane expressway having four-lane main expressway and four service lanes for plying low speed vehicles will connect the country’s southwestern part with the capital which will save travel time and facilitate smooth and uninterrupted vehicles movement.

According to the project details, the expressway has five flyovers, 19 underpasses, four railway overpasses, 25 bridges, four main bridges, 54 culverts, and two inter-changes which will contribute to the national economy by boosting trade and commerce in the country.

The expressway has been constructed on Dhaka-Khulna highway with an estimated cost of Tk 11003.90 crore taking the growing traffic volume into consideration for the next 20 years on this highway.

The Roads and Highways Department and Bangladesh Army jointly started the implementation of the expressway project in four districts -Dhaka, Munshiganj, Madaripur and Faridpur- back in 2016.

A documentary on the benefits of constructing the overpass was also screened.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed spoke on the occasion.

Railways Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, PM’s Political Adviser HT Imam, State Minister for Women and Children Affair Fazilatun Nessa Indira were present.

 

Dhaka/Mukul