Govt to build Dhaka East West Elevated Expressway on PPP basis
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
August 18, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022
Govt to build Dhaka East West Elevated Expressway on PPP basis

Infrastructure

Jahidul Islam
08 December, 2021, 06:05 pm
Last modified: 08 December, 2021, 09:55 pm

Related News

  • Traffic in Dhaka City: Can PPP be the solution?
  • Chinese consortium to implement Rampura-Amulia-Demra 4-lane highway
  • City Bank Becomes 'Escrow Bank' for 1st Public Sector Utility Project under PPP model
  • TBS Today: Banks and financial institutions are not interested in PPP
  • Financial houses shy about PPP

Govt to build Dhaka East West Elevated Expressway on PPP basis

Jahidul Islam
08 December, 2021, 06:05 pm
Last modified: 08 December, 2021, 09:55 pm
Representational image. Photo: Collected
Representational image. Photo: Collected

The government is going to build an elevated expressway to help passenger buses and goods-carrying vehicles coming from northern districts take a direct route to Dhaka-Chattogram highway, avoiding traffic congestion in Dhaka.

To this end, the government on Wednesday approved a proposal in principle to implement the Dhaka East West Elevated Expressway project on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. 

Both northern and southern districts will be able to use Padma Bridge as the 62-kilometre expressway with ramps stretching nearly 23km will be connected to Dhaka-Mawa highway.

Several South Korean companies have expressed interest in investing $2.05 billion in the project. The decision will be finalised at the 4th meeting of Bangladesh-Korea Joint PPP Platform to ensure investment in the G2G partnership on the basis of PPP.

The Public Private Partnership Authority Bangladesh said they will hold the meeting with Korea Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation on 21 December.

According to sources at the bridges division, the government in its seventh Five-Year Plan proposed constructing the Dhaka East West Elevated Expressway to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka and adjacent areas. 

In the preliminary feasibility study report finalised in 2016, the project cost was estimated at Tk16,389 crore.

A Malaysian company agreed to finance the project after the division prepared a preliminary development project proposal. Later, the Chinese government also expressed interest in investing in the project. But, the government has decided to implement the project on the PPP basis as no funding came from either of the two sides.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in its 34th meeting yesterday (Wednesday) gave approval to implement the expressway project on the PPP basis. 

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin said, "Many companies are now showing their keenness to be associated with this project. Once the tender is floated, responsive bidders will be selected through competition."

The route of the proposed expressway is Hemayetpur-Nimtoli-Keraniganj-Ekuria-Janzira-Fatullah-Hajiganj Bandar-Modonpur on Dhaka-Chattogram highway. The interchanges of the expressway are proposed at Hemayetpur, Dhaka-Mawa Highway, Narayanganj and Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

On completion of the project, traffic movement from eastern and south-western regions to the 20 north-western districts will be easier without entering Dhaka city. More than 38,000 vehicles would use the expressway on average per day.

Taking account of the time and fuel savings and considering bridge tolls as benchmark, truck drivers stated that they would pay a toll of up to Tk500 for a route to cross Dhaka city without delays, said officials of the bridges division, referring to the feasibility study.

The fuel savings will be substantial if bus drivers use the expressway and using the toll fare of bridges as a standard, they are willing to pay Tk200 to Tk250 per bus to use the proposed expressway, they also said.

The study proposed a toll of Tk9.4 per kilometre for a medium-sized truck and the total toll will be Tk366 for the entire expressway.

Md Abul Bashar, director general of the government's PPP Authority, told The Business Standard the project will be implemented in the most acceptable way of PPP - build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) system. The investors in the project will hand over the expressway to the government after collecting tolls for a certain period.

As the feasibility study has already been completed, too many surveys will not be required to implement the project, he said, adding, "If we work in the G2G partnership, it will take one and a half years to start the project and if we call for a tender, work will start in two and a half years."

If the construction is completed in four years, the investors will be allowed to raise tolls for 21 years, he noted.

Md Abul Hossain, superintending engineer at the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, told TBS that work on the project has been delayed as they waited for Malaysian investment. 

Mentioning that the construction of the expressway was supposed to start in 2018 and end in 2024, he said the project cost might go up as a few years have already gone by.

In the "Infra Project Roadshow" organised by Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency, a number of Korean companies showed interest in investing in the project. 

Feasibility study report of the project also revealed that the Dhaka East West Elevated Expressway will allow traffic to travel around the western perimeter of Dhaka between the Dhaka Aricha highway and Dhaka Chattogram highway with connections to Dhaka Mawa highway, which links directly to the Padma Bridge and to Narayanganj.

By making these connections between these major highways, and the north, south and west of the country, the expressway will reduce traffic congestion in the capital. 

The expressway is consistent with the strategic road network planning of both the Dhaka Structure Plan and the Asian Highway Network. 

The expressway will form an important part of AH1 and thus will be vital for establishing an improved transport link on the Trans-Asian highways. An integral part of the project is its connection to the upgraded Dhaka Mawa Highway and hence the Padma Bridge. 

The average speed of motor vehicles in Dhaka has come down to nearly walking speed because of a lower number of roads against rising population in the city, according to separate research conducted by Buet's Accident Research Institute and the World Bank. 

The annual losses caused by traffic congestion in Dhaka amount to $3-5 billion according to the two organisations, while the government has estimated the losses at over $7 billion or nearly 2% of GDP.

However, a report presented at an annual development conference recently organised by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies said traffic congestion in Dhaka indirectly causes a loss of 10% of GDP.

Top News

Dhaka East West Elevated Expressway / ppp

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. TBS Sketch
    Don't see you as minorities, PM Hasina tells Hindus in Bangladesh
  • Photo: TBS
    BRT accident: Anomalies everywhere 
  • A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Gazprom logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Gazprom to drill gas wells in Bhola

MOST VIEWED

  • Ctg waterlogging worsens as construction of sluice gates goes slow
    Ctg waterlogging worsens as construction of sluice gates goes slow
  • Ctg megaprojects get costlier from rising dollar, faulty plan
    Ctg megaprojects get costlier from rising dollar, faulty plan
  • The authority can choose certain hours on a given day in a week, when the bridge or parts of it on both ends will be available to interested walkers. PHOTO: MUMIT M
    Padma Bridge toll collection exceeds Tk100 crore mark
  • First consignment of Bangabandhu Rail Bridge machinery reaches Mongla port
    First consignment of Bangabandhu Rail Bridge machinery reaches Mongla port
  • Incumbent govt has improved capability of Chattogram port: Home Minister
    Incumbent govt has improved capability of Chattogram port: Home Minister
  • Photo: Collected
    Eviction drive starts to free Sitakunda hill

Related News

  • Traffic in Dhaka City: Can PPP be the solution?
  • Chinese consortium to implement Rampura-Amulia-Demra 4-lane highway
  • City Bank Becomes 'Escrow Bank' for 1st Public Sector Utility Project under PPP model
  • TBS Today: Banks and financial institutions are not interested in PPP
  • Financial houses shy about PPP

Features

We will be facing massive, recurring challenges in the coming years no matter what. Photo: Reuters

Holes in the recession story

9h | Panorama
Illustration: Bloomberg

What nonmonogamy can teach moonlighters and job jugglers

8h | Pursuit
The members of BracU Dichari in Poland for the ERL Championship Round. Photo: Courtesy

BracU Dichari: A Bangladeshi robotics team on the world stage

10h | Pursuit
FundedNext aims to provide funds to traders with the best possible trading experience and to maximise the opportunity to unleash their true potential. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

FundedNext: A global prop-trading firm built by a Bangladeshi youth

10h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Are elephants on the verge of extinction in Bangladesh?

Are elephants on the verge of extinction in Bangladesh?

22m | Videos
BM Depot fire: Uncertainty grips RMG exporters over payment for burnt goods

BM Depot fire: Uncertainty grips RMG exporters over payment for burnt goods

1h | Videos
Eight more banks make unusual gains from forex dealings

Eight more banks make unusual gains from forex dealings

3h | Videos
Nutritious food for mother

Nutritious food for mother

4h | Videos

Most Read

1
From left Afzal Karim, Murshedul Kabir and Mohammad Jahangir
Banking

Sonali, Agrani and Rupali banks get new MDs

2
Photo: TBS
Bangladesh

5 crushed to death as BRT girder falls on car in Uttara

3
Russia now offers Bangladesh finished oil
Energy

Russia now offers Bangladesh finished oil

4
Photo: Collected
Economy

Bangladesh is not in a crisis situation: IMF

5
Dollar price drops by Tk8 in kerb market
Economy

Dollar price drops by Tk8 in kerb market

6
Banks limited to profit highest Tk1 per dollar
Economy

Banks limited to profit highest Tk1 per dollar

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]