In what could be termed as a positive development for Dhaka-based apparel exporters who often have to deal with traffic congestion on Dhaka-Chittagong highway resulting in inordinate delays in shipments, the country’s Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has reportedly decided to construct a separate Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway, which is expected to ease the burden on the existing highway and thereby ensure better vehicular movement.
The RHD is reportedly planning to build a 217.5-km “access-controlled” highway between Dhaka and Chittagong through public-private partnership (PPP) for which it has been allotted Taka 169.89-billion for construction work, as per media reports.
The expressway will reportedly be built parallel to the existing Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane highway.
“The proposed mega project has been taken to facilitate the main expressway construction work through PPP initiative,” reportedly stated a senior RHD official speaking to the media adding, “Soon after getting approval of the project, we will start land acquisition, utility shifting and other necessary works for building the separate highway to ensure speedy traffic movement on the corridor.”
It may be mentioned here that Dhaka-based garment manufacturers have had to face harrowing times often while sending their cargo through existing Dhaka-Chittagong Highway to the all important Chittagong Port for export, due to severe traffic congestions, which at times lead to missing delivery deadlines.