The lack of coordination among the authorities in implementing development projects becomes evident once again in a latest instance in which the building works to connect the two under-construction expressways, to be done in the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in the capital, remains in limbo.
Officials of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project alleged that for nearly two years their initiatives for the connection went in vain as the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project office did not give them access to the particular construction site.
They said that in an 850-metre area stretching from the south of the airport roundabout to the Dhaka Elevate Expressway project area, the Ashulia expressway project is scheduled to build 26 piers to establish connection between the expressways.
Till now they have managed to install only four piers in the area, they added.
In response to the allegation, Dhaka elevated expressway officials said that they would clear the area by July this year.
Under the supervision of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, these two projects are now under implementation to reduce traffic congestion in the capital and its adjacent areas.聽
The 46.73-kilometre Dhaka Elevated Expressway project connects the airport with the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway at Kutubkhali, near Jatrabari.
The project was undertaken in 2011 and revised in 2013 due to alignment changes.
The construction began in 2015 at an estimated cost of Tk 8,940 crore.
Three international companies鈥攖he First Dhaka Elevated Expressway Company Ltd, a joint venture of Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited; China Shandong International Economic and Technical Co-operation Group; and Sinohydro Corporation Limited鈥攁re implementing the project.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Airport-Farmgate section of the expressway on September 2, 2023 and the exit ramp of the expressway鈥檚 Karwan Bazar section, opened to the traffic on March 20 this year.
As of May 13, the project鈥檚 overall progress was 75 per cent, said the project director.
The 24-kilometre-long Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project, stretching from the south of the airport roundabout to approximately 2km north of Baipail, has been undertaken to minimise traffic congestion in the northern part of the capital, especially in and around the industrial areas and export zones in Dhaka-Ashulia area.
After initial setbacks, the project finally kicked off in January 2023.
The development project proposal for the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway was approved on November 2, 2017 with an estimated cost of Tk 16,901.32 crore and a timeline of September 2017鈥揓une 2022.
But it was on June 1, 2022, when the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the first revised development project proposal with an increase in the cost to Tk 17,553.04 crore and a new deadline set at June 2026.
Till May 13, the project had 30 per cent physical progress, while the overall progress is 40 per cent, said project director Md Shahabuddin Khan.
An insider of the Ashulia expressway project said that 26 piers will be built in an area covering 850-metre stretching from the south of the airport roundabout to the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project.
But in this area, the Dhaka expressway authorities have kept their project materials, including girders, machinery and equipment, he said.
The Ashulia expressway project director told 抖阴精品 on Monday that the Dhaka expressway project should immediately give them access to the area for the Ashulia expressway works.
They had repeatedly held meetings with the other project鈥檚 authorities but all were futile, he added.聽
Dhaka expressway project director AHM Shakhawat Akhtar told 抖阴精品 on Wednesday that they would remove all girders from the construction site by July this year.
They were duly assisting the Ashulia expressway authorities, he added.
Lack of coordination among the authorities were also seen in the implementation of different other road communication projects, including the Mass Rapid Transit Line 6 project, popularly known as metro rail, Bus Rapid Transit Line 3 project and Bus Route Rationalisation project.