Despite the spread of Covid-19, construction work of the country’s mega projects including Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) is progressing at a satisfactory pace.
Work is progressing fast on 10 mega projects to lift up the country to the highway of developed countries by 2041.
The Padma Bridge is now visible after the 41st span installation on December 10.Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant , one of the major projects of the country is expected to complete by 2025. The Rampal Power plant being constructed by the joint venture of Bangladesh and India has made more than 11 percent progress.
The Metro Rail project in the capital is waiting for test run . Besides, the under- construction Payra deep-sea port, Padma Rail Link project, Single Line Dual Gauge Track Construction Project to Ghumdhum, Bangabandhu Tunnel in Chattogram and Elevated Expressway is continuing smoothly.
Two out of the three parts of the much-awaited DEE is expected to open for vehicular traffic by the end of this year.First part’s construction work has achieved more than 60 percent till now, according to project progress details.
The project work is divided into three parts—7.45 kilometers from Airport to Banani, to be constructed in the first part, 5.85 kilometers from Banani to Moghbazar in the second part, and 6.43 kilometers from Moghbazar to Kutubkhali in the final part.
Construction work of Dhaka Elevated Expressway has started in earnest after overcoming the adverse effects of coronavirus. Authorities said work is underway to launch a flyover from the airport to Tejgaon by December 2021.
Until now, the first part of the project has achieved 56 percent progress. On the other hand, construction work of the second phase from Banani to Tejgaon is also going on while land acquisition for the third phase from Tejgaon to Kutubkhali has just been completed.
AHMS Akhtar, project director of Dhaka Elevated Expressway, said, “We are putting the highest importance to the health protection of the workers to keep the pace of work going unhindered. By December 2021, we will be able to open the first part of the expressway from Airport to Tejgaon and we are working nonstop to complete the whole project by 2023”.
Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that Dhaka Elevated Expressway would play a significant role in the movement of heavy and other light motor vehicles easily.
Out of the total 46.73 kilometers elevated expressway including ramp, 19.73 kilometers will be main line, which will ensure smooth movement of motor vehicles without traffic, the project details said.
Construction of more than 1,304 working pile driving, 280 pile cap, 62 cross beam and 163 columns has been completed fully and 84 columns partially and 186 eye girder and two span eye girder have so far been completed, it said.
The 20 km Dhaka Elevated Expressway is being built at a cost of Taka 8,940.18 crore, which will connect Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway via Kuril- Banani-Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Moghbazar-Kamalapur-Sayedabad-Jatrabari.
