The Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project has logged a 9.5% progress, but some challenges are affecting the pace of implementation.

The three main challenges are utility line relocation, land acquisition, and site access at the Dhaka airport area.   

There are various utility lines on the expressway alignment, including high- and low-voltage power lines as well as telecommunication, water, and gas lines. Besides, the land required in different areas has not been handed over to the project authorities. As a result, work cannot be started in those places.

The project’s contractor, China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), said the expressway will connect with the Dhaka Elevated Expressway at the airport area. But the Dhaka Elevated Expressway authorities have not yet given clearance to start work at the connecting point.

“Besides, there are many infrastructures in the whole project area. Those have not been removed, which is hampering construction,” said Gu Feng, senior manager in the Operation and Construction Department at CMC.

This correspondent visited the project area on Wednesday and saw that construction was going on in three phases. The first phase started at Kawla, the second at Dhaur Bridge, and the third at Ashulia.

Four yards have so far been built. Test piling is complete while the structural designs of various parts have been approved. Piles, bored piles, pile caps, piers, pier caps, retaining walls, and diversion roads are being constructed in different places as per the project’s alignments. Some piers have already been completed.

Project Director Md Shahabuddin Khan told the Daily Sun they are targeting to finish 25% of the work by June 2024.

He said there are many power lines between Ashulia and Baipail Industrial Area and electricity supply needs to be halted to remove those.

“But power lines cannot be removed by halting supply every day in industrial areas. So, we are doing that every Saturday. We hope this problem will be resolved within six months,” he explained.

Shahabuddin said the project would be implemented fast as there is no financial problem. “Nearly 1,200 piles have been built. More piers will be visible within two to three months.”

Project components

The expressway will run from the Dhaka airport area to Dhaka EPZ and will connect with the Dhaka Elevated Expressway at Kawla. It will connect the Dhaka airport area with Abdullahpur, Ashulia, Baipail, and Dhaka EPZ. The length of the main expressway is 24 kilometres. It will have 14 ramps covering 10.83 kilometres.

Besides, a 1.95km flyover will be built in Nabinagar. There will be a 2.72km, four-lane elevated bridge in Ashulia. Moreover, there will be four-lane roads spanning 14.28 kilometres while 18km drainage systems will be constructed on both sides of the expressway, project officials said.

Bangladesh Bridge Authority is implementing the project. The Bridges Division said the residents of about 20 north-western districts and five to six south-western ones will be able to travel to Dhaka quickly through the Ashulia-Nabinagar-Baipail route.

The expressway will also play a key role in reducing traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Ashulia route. Export goods will be transported faster. Tolls will be charged for using the expressway.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council approved the project in 2017. Construction was scheduled to be finished in June 2022, but work did not even start at that time. The deadline was later extended till June 2026. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the project’s construction on 12 November 2022.

The project will be implemented at a cost of around Tk17,553.04 crore. Export-Import Bank of China provided loan assistance of Tk9,692 crore while Tk7,860 crore will come from the Bangladesh government exchequer.