Photo: Daily Messenger
One Step ahead for Belt and Road Initiative The Dhaka Bypass Expressway project, connecting national highways N1, N2, N3, and N4 in Bangladesh, is set to be operational from July 25th.
Over 65 per cent of road construction is being completed so far. Upon completion, the 48 km expressway from Joydevpur to Madanpur will provide uninterrupted travel, bypassing Dhaka city.
This was disclosed at a Media Public Day held by Sichuan Road and Bridge (Group) Co., Ltd. (SRBG) at the Club Resort and Convention Hall in Gazipur.
The event showcased ongoing construction activities and included a visit to the pavement construction work at the K12 railway overpass (Mirer Bazar Flyover).
The expressway is being implemented under the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project of the Department of Roads and Highways (SOAZ).
A consortium of SRBG, Shamim Enterprises Limited (SEL), and UDC Construction Limited (UDC) is leading the project, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) acting as the financial consultant.
The Joydevpur-Devgram-Bhulta-Madanpur Road (Dhaka Bypass) PPP project is transforming the previous two-lane road into a four-lane expressway with additional service lanes on both sides.
While the project's total cost is Tk 35 billion, it is not scheduled for completion until July 2025.
After completion, buses, trucks, and other vehicles will be able to travel more easily between northern and western regions to southern and eastern regions without entering Dhaka, significantly reducing congestion. However, the expressway will be a toll road
Xao Zhiming, CEO of Dhaka Bypass Expressway Development Company Limited (DBEDC), highlighted the project's importance. It will provide safer, more comfortable, and convenient travel, improve Dhaka's traffic network, alleviate congestion, and promote local economic development.
The project is listed as a practical cooperation project under the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, exemplifying strong China-Bangladesh collaboration. SRBG adheres to the "Five Ones" principle, aiming to set benchmarks for Belt and Road projects in Bangladesh.
RBG prioritizes safety management, technical research, and development.
They have introduced new technologies like semi-rigid pavement and reinforced retaining walls to Bangladeshi highways.
SRBG is committed to sustainable development, demonstrated by their community welfare activities, including donating a multimedia classroom to Golakandail Nilvita (Middle) Government Primary School and supporting the Government Child Family (Girl) Rupganj Narayanganj.
Yang Jianshi, Vice President of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh, emphasized the extensive cooperation between China and Bangladesh under the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Bangladesh-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor. He stated that member enterprises would continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, contributing to Bangladesh's social and economic development.
This collaboration, aligning with the "Golden Bengal Dream" and the "Chinese Dream," fosters mutual understanding and collaboration between the two nations. Member enterprises will further strengthen cooperation in areas like investment, infrastructure development, communication technology, finance, shipping, energy, logistics, and the garment industry. These efforts aim to contribute to Bangladesh's socio-economic development and ensure mutual benefit for both China and Bangladesh.
Wu Qiudong, Vice president of Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB), Md Shafiqul Islam Akand COO of Dhaka Bypass Expressway Development Company Limited, its General Managers Xi Bo and Yang Xu also were present on the occassion, among others.
Since the contract period for the Dhaka Bypass project was announced on May 15, 2022, 65 percent of the project is being completed.
While the expressway won't be fully operational until 2025, upon completion, travel time from Gazipur to Mandanpur will be significantly reduced, from two hours to just half an hour.
