Dhaka-Chittagong highway is being upgraded to eight lanes. For this purpose, the survey will start in March. The 231 km long highway from Dhaka’s Jatrabari to Chittagong City Gate has been estimated to cost 73 thousand crores to make eight lanes. Besides, service lanes will also be constructed on both sides of the highway.
According to sources, the traffic pressure has increased on this highway, which is known as the lifeline of the country. At present, more than capacity vehicles are moving through this highway. It has caused various problems including traffic congestion. In this situation, the government has decided to increase it to eight lanes.
It is known that earlier in 2013, the government had decided to make the expressway. But the project was canceled last year due to various reasons. After this it was decided to upgrade to eight lanes.
The total cost of this project has been estimated at 73 thousand 150 crores. Out of this, a loan of Tk 50 thousand crore is being sought from the development partners. The rest of the money will be provided by the government. Roads and highway (Soaz) has set a target of completing road widening work by 2029, starting in 2024
Last February 4 in Chittagong, Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Department ABM Amin Ullah Noori told reporters that the Dhaka-Chittagong highway will be upgraded to eight lanes. However, the entire road will not be eight lanes. It will be six lanes somewhere, eight lanes somewhere. It will be determined based on the pressure of the vehicle. The final design will be done in consultation with the stakeholders. It will cost 73 thousand crore taka’s.
According to sources, the highway will be widened through three separate projects. A project will be implemented in three districts of Greater Dhaka (Dhaka, Narayanganj and Munshiganj). The length of the road in this part is 38 km, which will cost 8 thousand 268 crore taka.
Another project will be in two districts (Comilla and Feni) of the greater Comilla part. The length of the road in this part is 125 km. Its implementation will cost 45 thousand 941 crores.
The third part will be implemented from Feni to City Gate of Chittagong. It will cost 18 thousand 942 crores. The length of this section is 69 km.
According to sources, under the new project, overpasses will be provided at places where traffic jams may occur from Madanpur in Narayanganj, Comilla, Bariyarhat in Chittagong to City Gate. Where the roads are curved, they will be straightened.
Sources from the Road Transport and Highways Department said that upgrading the 232 km highway from Jatrabari in Dhaka to City Gate in Chittagong to eight lanes will cost more than 73 thousand crore taka.
Road Transport and Highways Department Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Noori said that it is not possible to provide the entire project money from the government treasury. Therefore, loans will be taken from development partners. But development aid agencies will not agree to lend for the entire project at once. So three separate projects have been proposed to avoid complexity of the project.
In this regard, Chittagong Zilla Parishad Chairman ATM Payrul Islam said, ‘If our deep sea port is opened, it will not be eight lanes. 10 thousand vehicles need to be arranged on this road from Chittagong to Ramgarh. At the same time, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar can be traveled in 3 hours using Tripura state of India through Ramgarh land port. If we can implement it, both our time and money will be less.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Omar Hajjaz said, “We have been demanding to upgrade the road to eight lanes for a long time. If it is upgraded to eight lanes, the traffic jam will be reduced and the cost will also be reduced
