The 46.73-kilometre Dhaka-Chattogram Elevated Expressway, Currently Under Construction, Emerges as a Key Transport Link
The Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Bangladesh’s inaugural elevated expressway project, is making steady headway to alleviate the capital’s severe traffic congestion. Spanning a total length of 46.73 kilometers, including a 19.73-kilometer main viaduct and 27 kilometers of ramps, the project stretches from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. Implemented across three distinct phases, the current overall physical progress has reached 80.72 percent, with the first phase nearly complete at 99.94 percent, the second phase at 87.03 percent, and the third phase progressing at 22.45 percent.
Since September 3, 2023, the initial segment from Kawla at the airport’s southern end to Farmgate has been open to traffic. Presently, a 21.81-kilometer stretch inclusive of ramps from the airport to the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) gate remains operational. Upon full completion, the project will integrate key hubs like the Airport, Kuril, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Motijheel, and Jatrabari, significantly cutting down massive vehicle fuel losses and wasted human work hours.
Project Director Md. Golam Mortuza stated in an interview that construction is advancing rapidly, with engineers and workers actively expediting the Kamalapur section. ‘We hope to open the expressway up to Kamalapur in the near future,’ he said, adding that residents of Kamalapur and Motijheel will soon reap the benefits. ‘People from these areas will be able to easily travel to the airport via the expressway and arrive directly here. Ramps for entry and exit will be available in the Kamalapur section, making travel even more convenient.’
Dr. Hadiuzzaman, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at BUET, emphasized the strategic necessity of the project’s broader alignment. He told Inqilab, ‘The Dhaka Elevated Expressway project needs to be completed swiftly with high priority. This is not a disjointed project. As planned, this elevated expressway will eventually integrate with the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway. Otherwise, we will fail to achieve the core objective of the project, which is to provide a vertical bypass allowing traffic heading to and from the northern and southern districts to bypass central Dhaka entirely, ensuring uninterrupted movement for vehicles traveling to the North and South.’
Highlighting the transport capacity enhancement, Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Secretary of the Bridges Division and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, noted that construction strictly adheres to quality standards and timelines. Emphasizing that safety, punctuality, and public comfort remain top priorities, he stated, ‘Alongside construction progress, priority is given to the road infrastructure, drainage, public safety, and post-construction civic amenities in the project areas. Directives have been given to ensure the quality of ongoing work while taking effective measures to swiftly resolve temporary inconveniences caused by construction.’
Meanwhile, financial and technological developments are bolstering the project’s momentum as two leading banks from China’s Shandong province have expressed investment interest as alternative lenders. Furthermore, project authorities have urged a visiting Chinese delegation to coordinate the swift implementation of an RFID-based Electronic Toll Collection system. Experts believe that shifting surface traffic to the upper expressway upon opening the upcoming phases will heavily relieve pressure on central commercial hubs like Motijheel.
