It needs no emphasising that the government has been relentlessly working for the development of the country’s transport infrastructure. Work on a number of projects, including Padma Bridge, metro rail and elevated expressway, is going on in full swing to take our transport sector to the level of first world countries.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a project for upgrading the Sylhet-Tamabil highway into four-lane one, including a separate lane for slow-moving vehicular traffic (SMVT).
The upgradation of the Sylhet-Tamabil Highway is aimed at establishing sub-regional connectivity through Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil corridor alongside contributing to the improvement of socio-economic condition of the people living in the north-eastern region. The project also aims to improve cross-border connectivity between Bangladesh and India via a safe and efficient road link between Sylhet and Tamabil.
Strong regional connectivity not only strengthens the intra- and inter-regional trade but also generates higher income and prosperity. We hope increased cross-border connectivity between Bangladesh and India through Sylhet-Tamabil corridor will spur trade and commerce between the two neighbouring countries by reducing cost of transportation and logistics.
Increased cross-border connectivity between Bangladesh
and India through Sylhet-Tamabil corridor will spur trade
and commerce between the two neighbours by reducing
cost of transportation and logistics
Sylhet-Tamabil highway is an important part of Asian Highway (AH1 & AH2), BIMSTEC corridor (Corridor 3) and SAARC Highway corridor (SHC 5). It is now a two-lane highway with limited capacity and having no provision for slow-moving vehicles that create frequent congestion at different locations.
Therefore, upgrading of this highway to 4 lanes will significantly increase the capacity, mobility and safety. The development of this highway will also enhance the facilitation of faster and safer movements of passenger and cargo and will establish more economic links between Dhaka, Sylhet, Tamabil and all other places within the areas.
We expect that once this project is implemented a drastic change will take place in the cross-border road connectivity between Bangladesh and India. Therefore, it is time for all relevant departments and stakeholders to put forth their concerted efforts to implement the project within the stipulated time. Besides, proper monitoring must be ensured while implementing the projects to curb any sort of corruption.
