1st phase of expressway starts shortly
Thai to help with fund, technical know-how
Rafiq Hasan

The government has decided to start construction of the first phase of a 20-km elevated expressway in the capital shortly with its own resources to ease the nagging traffic jam.

The estimated cost of construction of the 13-km stretch of the expressway from Gulistan to Kamal Ataturk Avenue at Banani is around Tk 1,218 crore. In the second phase, the rest seven km will be built at a cost of about Tk 705.53 crore, sources said.

The first-phase part of the expressway will have entry points at GolapShah Mazar, New Market, Sonargaon crossing, Rangs crossing and Kamal Ataturk Avenue

Originally, the expressway was supposed to begin from Jatrabari crossing. Later Jatrabari-Gulistan portion was dropped as Dhaka City Corporation decided to build a 3.5-km fly over at a cost of Tk 706 crore.

The expressway project will be implemented mainly with Thai financial and technical assistance.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/12/22/2004-12-22__front02.jpg

The Ministry of Communications has decided to start implementing the project and sent the project proposal to the Planning Commission for final approval. The ministry expects to start the project early next year, sources said.

At least 30,000 vehicles will pass through the expressway an hour greatly reducing the number of vehicles on the roads, according to the project proposal.

The sources claimed that the elevated expressway will provide a 'permanent solution' to the huge traffic congestion in the capital city of 360 square km with around 12 million people and only 220 km roads. Vehicles carrying goods will also easily pass through the capital without affecting normal traffic, they said.

The Exim Bank of Thailand agreed to provide 60 per cent funds for the project as soft loan and the Thai government 20 per cent as technical support.

The Bangladesh government will provide the rest, according to the project proposal.

A three-member technical team from Thailand is likely to come to Dhaka soon for discussion on the project.

Two task forces formed in Bangladesh and Thailand to implement the project already held several meetings.

The concept of the elevated expressway first came up at talks during the Thai prime minister's visit to Bangladesh in 2002. An Italian-Thai development company then conducted a pre-feasibility study and submitted its report on December 10 of the same year.

Officials at the Roads and Highways Department said the elevated expressway is the cheapest solution to the existing traffic congestion.

The government has not abandoned the idea of an underground railway network in the capital, which is very costly. Hardly any investor came up for investment on such a huge project, they mentioned.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/12/22/d4122201044.htm

WOW! Amazing, so good to see they are focussing on infrastructure development! :)

Yes, this is good news.

Nice.

What is the longest expressway in the world?

Elevated, I don't know. BUt the longest 12-laned expressway is the 401 Canada.

Elevated Expressway
Thai team due May 12
UNB, Dhaka

A high-powered Thai delegation will arrive in Dhaka by May 12 to prepare a 'plan of action' for constructing a two-storied elevated expressway connecting all important intersections in the capital.
The $400 million project has been conceived as part of government efforts to 'ease the capital city's traffic jam permanently', a preparatory meeting at the communications ministry with a Thai delegation was told yesterday.

The team will work out alignment and financing process for the 13-km expressway.

Discussion on the project was held at yesterday's meeting between Thai Ambassador Suphat Chitranukroh and Communications Minister Nazmul Huda.

During the visit, the high-powered delegation will meet the taskforce formed by the Bangladesh government, officials of the communications ministry and Roads and Highways Department and finalise the process.

Thai Exim Bank will support 60 percent while Thai and Bangladesh governments will equally share the remaining 40 percent of total cost of the project to be implemented in two phases.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/04/26/d50426012823.htm

nice to see some development in dhaka

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/view.php?hidDate=2005-05-08&hidType=NAT&hidRecord=0000000000000000043836

Elevated expressway getting a final shape-Dhaka, Bangkok reach accord on key points

The much-talked-about Dhaka Elevated Expressway is now going to be a reality as both sides of Bangladesh and Thailand finally reached a consensus on some key points in the implementation of the mega project.

Narrowing down the differences in their earlier rigid respective positions, both the Bangladesh Task Force and Technical Team of Thailand have decided to resolve the remaining disagreements through negotiations for the sake of implementing such a huge project aimed at reducing the intolerable traffic congestion in the capital city of Dhaka.

In order to settle the remaining disagreements, both the Bangladesh Task Force and the Technical Team of Thailand will sit in a meeting on May 12 to discuss elaborately and finalise the project. The technical committee from Thailand will visit Bangladesh from May 12.

BSS adds: Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda on Saturday said the government would create a 317 million dollar funds for building a two-tier elevated expressway in the capital, said a press release.

It was disclosed at an inter-ministerial meeting at the communications ministry with Barrister Nazmul Huda in the chair.

Barrister Huda said the taskforce comprising representatives from the Thai government and the Thai Exim Bank is scheduled to visit Dhaka on May 11 and 12 to reach an understanding with the senior finance ministry officials on how to create the funds.

The minister said the government will seek loans from the Thai Exim Bank at a concessional interest rate and also grant from the Thai government to build the elevated expressway.

Although both the sides agreed on many points, the interest rate for the borrowed loans has not yet been mentioned by the Thai side. Bangladesh task force would try to fix the interest rate at below 5.73 per cent and in case of proposed 20 per cent Thai government loan (if no grant) the interest rate may be less than two per cent.

The forthcoming meeting is likely to discuss the whole alignment of the proposed project including implementation of phase two. Although the pre-feasibility study of the phase-I has already been done by the Thai Engineering Company Ltd., Bangladesh Task Force will request the Thai team to undertake the pre-feasibility study of the revised locations including phase-II.

Thai side had earlier expressed its willingness to provide 60 per cent commercial borrowing from Thai Exim Bank and Government of Bangladesh would provide the rest 40 per cent. But Bangladesh Task Force would insist on having 20 per cent as the contribution from the government of Bangladesh and the rest 20 per cent as Thai government grant or soft loan, according to communications ministry sources.

“The Task Force of Bangladesh will try to fix the repayment period as 20 years,” said a competent source in the communications ministry, adding that the task force may also discuss that the utilities like gas, electricity, telephone, WASA etc. would be removed by the contractor under the project as per relocation programme and design of the affected organisations.

However, both sides agreed to implement the projects in two phases as ADP project instead of BOT basis.

During the visit of the Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra in August 2002, the two prime ministers agreed to boost cooperation between private sectors of the two countries in several areas, including construction of elevated expressway in Dhaka.

A project concept paper was submitted to the planning commission for the revised route from Kamal Ataturk Avenue to Mohakhali Flyover to Sonargaon intersection to New market to Katabon to Fulbaria to Gulistan (Golpashah majar) to second Buriganga bridge for Phase one. The length of the proposed alignment is 13.00 km and the approximate construction cost is 203 million US dollars. In phase 2, it is proposed to construct from Kamal Ataturk Avenue to Progati Sarani for a length of 7.00 km with an estimated cost of 118 million US dollars.

The proposed elevated expressway which will also link Jatrabari interchange to the airport, will be a four-lane viaduct over the existing roads and its foundation will be placed on the central median at an interval of 30-35 m.

this thread should be moved to Heritage, Tourism and Infrastructure in Bangladesh sub forum.

Govt revives elevated expressway project
The caretaker government has revived the plan to erect a two-storied elevated expressway in Dhaka on the basis of BOT (build-operate-and transfer) to lessen the capital's perennial traffic congestion, a top official said. "We'll send the proposal of the elevated expressway to the Board of Investment by September to scrutinise it," communications secretary Mahbubur Rahman told the FE Sunday.

Rahman said an international tender would also be floated shortly to woo the potential investor for the project, the cost of which is estimated at US$ 321 million.

He added that if the communications ministry found the findings of a feasibility study on the proposed project "favourable", it would step up its efforts to attract the private sector to construct the elevated expressway.
A source at the communications ministry said the communications ministry has assigned the Italian-Thai Development Company Limited to carry out the feasibility study and submit it to the government.

"The company will share the major highlights of its study with the ministry officials on September 10. Then the ministry will decide its subsequent course of action," the source added.

The source at the communications ministry said an expert team of Italian-Thai is scheduled to arrive in the city on September 08 to hold talks with officials of the government agencies and local financial institutions. The communications secretary acknowledged that the proposed project has remained in limbo for several years.

Although he preferred to keep mum about the politico-bureaucratic tangle, Rahman attributed the delay to the Thai government's indecision of financing the project. Earlier, the Thai Exim Bank agreed to extend 60 percent in loan while Thai and Bangladesh governments was suppose to equally share the residual 40 percent of total cost of the project.

Officials say the elevated expressway will provide a "breathing space" for the city dwellers who have continued to suffer from Dhaka's perennial traffic jam. With an estimated 12 million people, Dhaka is considered one of the fastest-growing mega cities in the world, but it has only 220 kilometres roads. According to the original project proposal, the 20-kilometre-long expressway, to be built in two phases, was supposed to take six years to complete.

The first phase, around 13 kilometres of expressway with a four-lane viaduct over the existing roads, will be constructed at a cost of around $203 million. In the first phase, the revised route will extend from Kemal Ataturk Avenue to Second Buriganga Bridge via Mohakhali flyover to the Sonargaon crossing to New Market via Katabon-Phulbaria-Gulistan (Golpashah Majar), according to a project concept paper submitted to the planning commission.On the other hand, the expressway will have exit points at Golapshah Mazar, Nilkhet, New Market and the Sonargaon crossing.

The first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in three-years from the beginning of construction, said a Roads and Highway official. The official added the second phase of the elevated expressway, the cost of which is estimated at $118 million, will stretch from Kemal Ataturk Avenue (Banani) to Pragati Sarani. It can take another three years to complete construction of the second phase.

At least 30,000 vehicles will be able to pass through the expressway an hour, thereby reducing the number of vehicles on the roads, according to the project proposal.

The estimated toll revenue from the elevated expressway is Tk 300 million a year.The idea of erecting the elevated expressway first came up at the official parley between Dhaka and Thailand during the then Thai premier's visit to Bangladesh in 2002.

Since then, two taskforces have worked out on the alignment and investment for the project and several rounds of official and technical level meetings have been held. Later, the Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited had carried out a pre-feasibility study on the proposed overpass and submitted its report in December 2002.


http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.co...s&news_id=9915

snoq now this is what I call an exciting news. I really hope this gets done. It would instantly take care of some traffic issues.

Wow

This is a fantastic decision by the CG! I just hope they can implement it and get all the legal procedures completed fast.

Is this the same elevated expressway said to be built on the rangs bhaban space or is that some other type of expressway.

Thanks for the update Snoq. Hopefully the funding for such large venture is fully worked out before construction is initiated. I am assuming Thai govt will get something out of this...percentage of toll I suppose...if so for how many years I wonder?

really exciting...hope it comes into being.

Elevated expressway in city under review

The government is actively considering various steps to remove traffic jam from the city by introducing different modes of transportation including elevated expressway.

Additional secretary of the communication ministry ATKM Ismail Hossain told the state-run news agency that the government was actively considering construction of expressway around the capital city to ease the traffic congestion.

Besides, he said, the government is also contemplating introduction of monorail system, elevated light train system and underground rail system to smoothen the city’s communication to the greater benefit of the commuters.

Official sources said the communication ministry was examining a proposed project submitted by the Italian-Thai Development Public Ltd, a Thai-based company, to set up the elevated expressway in Dhaka city.

They said the company proposed to construct a total of 30-km expressway in three phases with 10 toll boxes and 10 exit points in six years at an estimated cost of Tk 7,700 crore.

In the first phase, 11 km of the expressway will be constructed in two and half years from Shahinbagh in the southern part of Mohakhali flyover to Jatrabari via Sonargaon Hotel intersection, Kataban, New Market, Nilkkhet and Gulistan.

In the second phase, 7-km of the expressway will start from Jatrabari and connect itself with the Sonargaon intersection via Sayedabad, Kamlapur and Moghbazar.

In the last phase, 12-km of the expressway starting from Abdullahpur near the river Turag will connect itself with the previous two routes via Zia International Airport and Tejgaon old airport.

The average height of the expressway will be 4.75 meters from the city’s existing roads and 100,000 motorised vehicles will be able to ply it everyday, the officials said quoting the proposal.

They also said that Italian-Thai Development Public Ltd Company carried out a feasibility study in Dhaka city in 2002 for setting up the expressway.

Ismail Hossain said present government recently communicated with the company and he has been keeping contact with it in this regard.

http://www.newagebd.com/met.html

[B]
The government has not abandoned the idea of an underground railway network in the capital, which is very costly.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/12/22/d4122201044.htm

While underground mass transit may be cost prohibitive, MRT/LRT should be doable. Traffic congestion in Manila used to be as ridiculous as Dhaka's (I used to go there regular). I do not know how much their new LRT has contributed to lessen the congestion but I hear it is a great success.

Dhaka is only about 10ft sea level. I think underground is out of way.... till we have a lot of money and/or technology. What about floods?

Dhaka is only about 10ft sea level. I think underground is out of way.... till we have a lot of money and/or technology. What about floods?

Kolkata has a subway and elevation similar to Dhaka.

Thai firms keen to assist in elevated expressway

Thailand is interested to cooperate with Bangladesh in constructing elevated expressway in the capital to ease traffic congestion.

Thai companies are also interested to work with Petrobangla in offshore gas exploration in Bangladesh, Thai Ambassador in Dhaka Suphat Chitranukroh informed when he paid a farewell call on Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office yesterday.

The envoy further told the chief adviser that the Thai communications ministry would assist in constructing the elevated expressway using the vast experiences of construction of their elevated highways.

The chief adviser said he will follow it up as Bangladesh wants to expedite construction of the elevated expressway.

The Thai envoy also apprised the chief adviser that many Thai companies are interested to relocate their industries in Bangladesh availing the opportunity of cheap labour force and investment-friendly atmosphere.

Welcoming the idea, the chief adviser said it will be a win-win situation for both the countries. He lauded the successes of Thailand in horticulture, agriculture and shrimp industries.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=8998

Does anyone have the proposed design and route plan for this project?

^^ I believe the past BNP govt was reluctant to go forward with this project due to difficulties for funding and I don't think a graphic representative for the routes exists. Maybe now the Caretaker govt is reviving this project. They already approved the underground Subway system.

^^ Funding of this project pretty much remained the sticking point. However, sooner or later they will have to take up similar projects, in my view.

What is the longest expressway in the world?

I think I-10, and I-40,I-80, and I-94 in USA. Not sure the legnth of each one. You can probably look it up

I think I-10, and I-40,I-80, and I-94 in USA. Not sure the legnth of each one. You can probably look it up

The longest in the USA is I-90 from Boston to Seattle, around 3100 miles. It is a very scenic freeway once you get to the Montana Rockies and then all the way to Washington State. I drove on it in parts of Western Massachusetts during the fall season and that was very picturesque too.

The longest in the USA is I-90 from Boston to Seattle, around 3100 miles. It is a very scenic freeway once you get to the Montana Rockies and then all the way to Washington State. I drove on it in parts of Western Massachusetts during the fall season and that was very picturesque too.

Thanks Einstein :D.
I did travel a lot when life was free and not much to be concerned about. The last trip I had was going from South Florida to Mobile, AL.
Went to attend a wedding with a friend of mine. The distance is about 700 miles and takes about 10 hours by car. We chose to drive. Bad decision. I kinda teased my friend and told him, " You know Gaye Holud is tonight and not tomorrow night." He didn't take my words too kindly. A Chevy Aveo going at 85 mph even in rain is very scary and must be avoided at any cost, but thats what I got ! I think I ticked him off and he was hell bent on about catching "Gaye Holud." Well we didn't catch any holud other than my heart in my mouth !

An accident about 50 miles east of Pensacola shut down the West bound I-10 lanes. We were stuck there for about two hours. It was a chaos. Some guy trying to switch to the East bound lanes got stuck in the mud. An entrepreneurial Spring Breaking FSU ( for those that don't know FSU, its Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL about 190 miles east of Pensacola ) student pulled him out with his F-250 for a fee of $90 ! Some female FSU students kept the motorists entertained by having a mini spring break party on the Interstate :D.
When we finally arrived at "Holud" , the party was over along with the food. When you go to a Holud and end up eating a HotDog, its a crime against a Bangladeshi ! Suffice to say I more than made up on the wedding !!


Peace to All

they are usually eyesores. We can't get rid of the one we have here in Toronto

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=gardiner+expressway#page=0

What's the difference between a long flyover & elevated expressway ?

DHAKA ELEVATED EXPRESSWAY
Friday, February 19, 2010

The cabinet committee also okayed a proposal of the communications ministry to appoint consultant for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway without tender.

The ministry made the proposal to award the consultancy work to the consultant of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge -- Maunsell-AECOM -- at a cost of Tk 3.1 crore.

Muhith said the proposal was made to award the consultancy for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway to the same consultant to save time. He said the consultant could start the work in next 10 days.

He added it is expected that the work may be completed within three months. It would take at least six months to appoint consultant only if a fresh tender would have to be floated, he said.

As per the plan of the communications ministry, the four-lane Dhaka Elevated Expressway (Gazipur-Narayanganj) would be 32.1 kilometres in length and would cost Tk 8,617 crore or $1.24 billion.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=126944

Gazipur to Narayanganj?I like the sound of that!:cheers:

Gazipur to Narayanganj?I like the sound of that!:cheers:
It may be just that, sound! :)

DHAKA ELEVATED EXPRESSWAY
Friday, February 19, 2010

The cabinet committee also okayed a proposal of the communications ministry to appoint consultant for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway without tender.

The ministry made the proposal to award the consultancy work to the consultant of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge -- Maunsell-AECOM -- at a cost of Tk 3.1 crore.

Muhith said the proposal was made to award the consultancy for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway to the same consultant to save time. He said the consultant could start the work in next 10 days.

He added it is expected that the work may be completed within three months. It would take at least six months to appoint consultant only if a fresh tender would have to be floated, he said.

As per the plan of the communications ministry, the four-lane Dhaka Elevated Expressway (Gazipur-Narayanganj) would be 32.1 kilometres in length and would cost Tk 8,617 crore or $1.24 billion.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=126944

Oh swell, officially sanctioned looting (no tender, not that it makes that much of a difference). How nice.

Oh swell, officially sanctioned looting (no tender, not that it makes that much of a difference). How nice.

Let them loot, that's a constant "L", but we want the expressway completed. It is aggravating, to say it mildly, when they loot and have nothing to show.

^^ Realistically Padma Bridge along with Dhaka Eastern Bypass road and Dhaka-Chittagong Highway are probably the only major infrastructures to be completed by this government.

Second Padma Bridge, Subway, elevated expressway e.t.c are nothing more than talks..

^^ Realistically Padma Bridge along with Dhaka Eastern Bypass road and Dhaka-Chittagong Highway are probably the only major infrastructures to be completed by this government.

Second Padma Bridge, Subway, elevated expressway e.t.c are nothing more than talks..
I doubt the Padma Bridge will be completed before the end of the AL's tenure in office, if the preliminary work (tasks) before the actual construction phase has not yet been embarked upon.

^^
LOL thats Bangladesh, blame in on the politicans mate!

Do I get this right? This elevated highway was supposedly "started" in 2004 and now after 6 years they just picked a consulting firm and no actual progress?

^^
LOL thats Bangladesh, blame in on the politicans mate!

Expressway route finalised

21km thruway in the capital to align rail link, save one-hour travel time, may affect some new projects; $2.5b investment needed; govt aims at completing it by 2013


http://www.thedailystar.net/photo/2010/08/24/2010-08-24__front03.jpg

Sharier Khan

The cabinet yesterday approved the route for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway that would run 21km from Shahjalal International Airport to Demra via Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, and complete within December 2013.

At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the cabinet reviewed a report prepared by the project's Australian consultant Aecom and approved one of the five route options in line with the consultant's recommendation.

The consultant examined five route options and recommended the fifth option that suggested building the four-lane express carriageway mainly using land owned by the government, mostly Bangladesh Railway's land. There will be minimal need to acquire fresh land for the expressway that offers possible scope for expansion to Ramna and Mirpur in the future.

This route would save at least an hour's travel time between the airport and Demra and it will serve majority of central Dhaka traffic and provide immediate relief from congestion as it will have entry and exit ramps at several places.

The consultant, however, identified five projects that would be affected by the expressway. It asked to keep in mind Malibagh to Janapath Highway, Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover, Tejgaon Sat Rasta Crossing to Moghbazar, Banani Rail Crossing-Zia Colony-Mirpur and Kuril Flyover projects during the construction of the expressway.

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain told The Daily Star that the expressway was primarily estimated to cost $2.5 billion.

"The government will give the land, facilities and some part of the fund. The contractor will have to invest for the construction," he said, adding that the best bidder will have to give the most attractive offer on the expressway toll, the best engineering solutions and in how many years would the contractor (who would operate the expressway) handover the project to the government will be considered.

"We have all documents ready for this project. We hope to sign the agreement with the best bidder by December 2010 so that we can start the construction early next year. We hope it will end by December 2013," the minister said, adding that this would drastically reduce traffic jam in the city.

Within this week, the Bridge Division of the communications ministry will ask four pre-qualified companies to submit their proposals. These companies are: Italian-Thai Development Public Company (Thailand), Sikder Real Estate-KCC JV (Bangladesh-Korea), Gammon Infrastructure Projects Ltd-Bouygus Travaux Publics SA Consortium (India-France) and China Railway International (China).

At yesterday's meeting, it was disclosed that Japan would provide $1.7 billion for constructing the first part of the proposed metro railway in Dhaka. This would be finalised early next year during a visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan, a cabinet member told The Daily Star.

The prime minister rejected a World Bank suggestion to raise the toll fee of Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge. The bank said otherwise, it would not provide support for the upcoming Padma Bridge.

Hasina told the meeting that Bangladesh paid the bank interest for taking loans. Why should the country listen to such odd suggestions when the people are already paying high toll considering Bangladesh's perspective, she said. If such suggestions are implemented, it will increase prices of commodities, she said.

THE EXPRESSWAY ROUTE

This option chosen for the expressway will follow the rail alignment with piers offset from the railway. This is subject to negotiations between Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Bridge Authority and the bidders, depending on the engineering solutions proposed by each bidder. Should land not be available adjacent to the railway alignment, then the route would follow the central reservation of roads.

At Mohakhali Flyover, the expressway would run along the central reservation of Shaheed Tajuddin Road through Tejgaon industrial area. The expressway would rejoin the rail corridor through Moghbazar to then join up with Syedabad Road.

Along Syedabad Road, the expressway would be located between the road and the rail corridor; reducing the interaction with the Khilgaon flyover.

The expressway could then continue along the rail corridor to the Kamalapur Railway Station and container terminal. South of Kamalapur Station, the expressway curves to the east passing south of Kamalapur Stadium. The route then passes through the water catchments and Syedabad Water Treatment Plant, turns south and connects with Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.

While this expressway route would not link places like Dhanmondi or Mohammadpur, it proposes two additional extensions. The first one is a 1.8km long extension through Tejgaon industrial area to Farmgate. The second one is 3.4km long expansion starting near Panthapath and traversing the water catchments south of Hotel Sonargaon, then following the Sonargaon Road from New Eskaton Road to Buet.

The study identified potential interchanges in the following locations:

1. Kuril Flyover at the intersection of Airport Road to provide access to Airport Road southbound.

2. Cantonment overpass over Airport Road near railway crossing.

3. Banani, south of Kamal Ataturk Avenue and north of Mohakhali Flyover to give access to and from Gulshan and Mohakhali.

4. Panthapath to provide access to and from Ramna, Tejgaon and Shaheed Tajuddin Road.

5. Kamalapur Railway Station south of the Khilgaon Flyover to provide access to and from Paltan and Motijheel.

A major advantage of this route would be minimal disruption to traffic during the construction period as it mainly uses the rail alignment.

But there will be significant disruption to traffic during the construction period along Shaheed Tajuddin Road and possibly Airport Road. The southern end of the Expressway from Kamalapur to Dhaka-Chittagong Highway will require significant land acquisition.

The project would, however, impact link projects like Zia Colony to Mirpur Road, Bijoy Sarani-Shaheed Tajuddin Road, Mirpur-14 to New Airport Road, Jatrabari Bridge-Polder Road, Jatrabari-Demra Ghat, FDC Level Crossing to Hatirjheel, and Malibagh Level Crossing.

Due to contractual inflexibility of the public-private partnership approach, other projects would be denied the use of the corridor occupied by the expressway and this would impact implementation of the upcoming Mass Rapid Transit System.

Utilising the rail corridor could potentially require some buildings to be demolished. There are some very narrow clearances along Syedabad Road and Khilgaon.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs on June 17 last year approved the project. To implement the project on a fast track, the project was given exemption from various procedures of the Bangladesh Private Sector Infrastructure Guidelines on October 20 last year and the Bridges Division was assigned to directly process pre-qualification of investors.

On March 4, nine local and foreign investors submitted pre-qualification documents out of which a seven-member specialist committee led by Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury pre-qualified four investors in April.

On April 18, the authorities appointed Aecom Australia Proprietary Ltd as a consultant to advise on preparing the project's tender document, draft agreement and route.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=152024

Expressway route finalised

21km thruway in the capital to align rail link, save one-hour travel time, may affect some new projects; $2.5b investment needed; govt aims at completing it by 2013


http://www.thedailystar.net/photo/2010/08/24/2010-08-24__front03.jpg

Sharier Khan

The cabinet yesterday approved the route for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway that would run 21km from Shahjalal International Airport to Demra via Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, and complete within December 2013.

.............
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=152024

December 2013? Pigs will fly before that happens!

December 2013? Pigs will fly before that happens!

First phase of the construction would be completed in December 2013 (Expected). The whole project would take many years to complete.



It would not take long to build the expressway, said the press secretary, as it would be built mostly on railway land, requiring no private land acquisition, which always proves a lengthy process.

The construction of the first phase of the expressway is expected to begin in January 2011 for completion before December, 2013.

The first phase of expressway, according to the plan, would stretch 22kms with by-lanes connecting Manik Mia Avenue, Mahakhali, Motjheel Commercial Area and Palashi.

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/aug/24/front.html

2013? That's when the Awami League has to step down. Honestly, this is a bad characteristic I have, but I always enjoy watching what happens in Bangladesh during election season. I know a lot of deaths and violence occurs "A'zubillah" which is NOT why I enjoy it. But the comments each party throws at each other and the things they do always entertains me. It's like watching a bunch of old childish clowns making dumb-asses out of each other to the people of Bangladesh and to the rest of the world; and they've been doing this for over a decade.

First phase of the construction would be completed in December 2013 (Expected). The whole project would take many years to complete.

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/aug/24/front.html

As they say, "the proof is in the pudding", and, "seeing is believing".

can we seriously invest money on electricity? people are dying due to lack of power and electricity...if they are dead why are we building highways..to let the donkeys use it for safer transport?...

i swear to god i wont be a little bit surprised if the highway is named after Sheikh Mujib.

there are thousand of way of controlling traffic. lets control those "murir tin" buses and lorries. lets introduce better traffic system. in Bangladesh you need to force people to obey the lights . lets do that ...we need to sort our basic problems and needs otherwise no matter of how many highway, motorway, express way we build, all will be useless.

2013? That's when the Awami League has to step down. Honestly, this is a bad characteristic I have, but I always enjoy watching what happens in Bangladesh during election season. I know a lot of deaths and violence occurs "A'zubillah" which is NOT why I enjoy it. But the comments each party throws at each other and the things they do always entertains me. It's like watching a bunch of old childish clowns making dumb-asses out of each other to the people of Bangladesh and to the rest of the world; and they've been doing this for over a decade.

baba korsilo oita

jamai korsilo eita

bhon korisilo oita

afa korsilo eita

chele korsilo oita

amma korsilo eita

shoshur korsilo oita

shashuri korsilo..eita :bash::bash::bash:

Tuesday, October 12, 2010Metropolitan

'Metro rail to affect 200 families'
Staff Correspondent
About 200 households and 2.75 acres of private land will be affected due to construction of metro rail from Uttara to Sayedabad in the city, said a preliminary findings of a survey.

Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) revealed the finding at a shareholder meeting on Mass Rail Transit (MRT-Line-6 project) at Government Science College auditorium in the city yesterday.

CCDB resettlement expert Moniruzzaman said if the metro rail project is implemented, properties of homesteads, business establishments, schools, health centres and worships etc will be affected.

He also suggested paying replacement value to the properties' holders and providing them with special assistance as well as alternative or similar works.

Addressing the meeting, Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) Project Director Anisur Rahman said the government will certainly give compensation against the possible loss of the properties. The compensation may be provided either as per the land acquisition act or as per the terms and conditions of donor agencies.

He also said there will be 18 stations from Uttara to Sayedabad under the rail project with a capacity of carrying 1,678 passengers at a time.

The metro rail will take 3.20 minute at each station as interval time and operation time will be from 5:00am to 11:00pm.

The government will start its construction work in 2014 to go for its operation in 2017, he said.

Speaking as the special guest, DTCB Executive Director GM Joynal Abedin said they will hold a total of 15 stakeholder meetings in the city to share opinions about land acquisition and compensation issue.

Local MP Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and several hundreds of local inhabitants, DTCB officials, among others, were present at the meeting.

-The Daily Star

Elevated Expressway in
Dhaka by 2013
Communications minister tells JS
Staff Correspondent
Communication minister Syed Abul Hossain on Monday told the Jatiya Sangsad that the government has taken a move to build Elevated Expressway in the capital to reduce the traffic congestion.
Replying to a question placed by lawmaker Nasimul Alam Chowdhury, the minister said that construction of the proposed expressway would start in January to be completed by 2013 during the tenure of the present government.
He said that primary works on the project already began and nine internationally reputed organisations submitted pre-qualification proposals of which the evaluation committee initially selected four.
He also informed that the cabinet committee at a meeting on August 23 finalised the route for the Elevated Expressway. The route will be Shahjalal International Airport to Kamlapur Golapbag via Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Satrasta, Magbazar and Khilgaon.
Two organisations out of the selected four already submitted their papers following the government request for submitting their proposals within the stipulated deadline of November 23.
The evaluation will be completed at the end of this month and the construction works will start in January 2011 to be completed by 2013.
Replying to a question from Hamidur Rahman Azad, the minister told the Jatiya Sangsad that the government has taken an initiative to construct a four-lane highway from Dhaka to Chittagong to reduce traffic congestion.

Source: New Age

I'll believe it when I see it.

Well, what else is new?

Mega projects in huge mess
Staff Correspondent
Most projects the Awami League government has taken up to improve the traffic situation in Dhaka failed to meet deadlines due to lack of coordination between different ministries and agencies.

Although construction of the Jatrabari-Gulistan and cantonment flyovers has begun recently, the projects of the elevated expressway, metro rail, a few underpasses and overpasses are facing delays.

An inter-ministry meeting was held at the communications ministry yesterday where a committee was formed to coordinate the quick implementation of the projects.

A Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) official will lead the committee, which will also have representatives from the communications, public works and planning ministries, Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and the army.

Construction of first metro rail from Uttara Third Phase to Sayedabad, chalked out in the Strategic Transport Plan (STP), is still in the primary stage and the government requires at least a year to complete all the procedures.

In the first stage of the construction, the metro rail will be built between Pallabi and Hotel Sonargaon intersection between 2013 and 2015.

In the second stage, it will be constructed between Sonargaon intersection and Sayedabad and from Pallabi to Uttara in the third.

"Construction of the 22km metro rail may be delayed, as there are many more things to finalise," said an official of the DTCB.

Japan expressed interest in financing 80 percent of the cost ($1.7 billion) to construct the 22km metro rail from Uttara Third Phase to Sayedabad via Pallabi. The government will pay the remaining 20 percent of the cost.

It will mostly be an elevated system and will be built mainly over government land and existing roads.

Meanwhile, the DCC has chalked out a project to construct four underpasses between Shahbagh and Farmgate with a target to complete them by end of 2011.

The Tk 170 crore project was earlier scheduled to start this month but it will now be delayed by about a year.

The four-lane underpasses will enable uninterrupted vehicular movement through Bangla Motor and Sonargaon intersections on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue.

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said construction of the elevated expressway might start next month but officials in the ministry said it might take more time to finalise everything.

A seven-member expert committee headed by Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury is set to select a firm next week for the construction of the expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Narayanganj.

The projects to construct Moghbazar-Malibagh flyover, circular trains service around Dhaka city, and overpasses at level crossings are also in the primary stages. Two overpass projects, Banani and Jurain, were, however, finalised and are expected to start soon.

Yesterday's meeting was convened to discuss various limitations of different projects.

"We must have proper coordination so that one project does not conflict with the other delaying the implementation," said Abul Hossain.

Construction of the Hatirjheel project, a tunnel from Jahangirgate to Bangabandhu International Conference Centre and the under-construction Kuril flyover were also discussed in the meeting.

Communications Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan, Maj Gen Hamid Al Hasan of army headquarters, Brig Gen Shahidur Rahman, Prime Minister's Military Secretary Brig Gen Md Salahuddin Miaji, additional executive director of DTCB SM Salehuddin, member of Rajuk M Mahbubul Alam, and project directors and designers of different projects were present at the meeting.

Source: The Daily Star

DTCB to co ordinate projects
to ease tailback in capital
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka
The Dhaka Transport Coordination Board will coordinate the implementation of various projects carried out by the government, aiming at cutting traffic congestion in the capital.
The decision came from an inter-ministerial meeting through negotiation with the all stakeholders at the communication ministry Tuesday afternoon.
Communications minster Abul Hossain presided over the meeting.
During the meeting, Abul Hossain stressed the need for effective coordination of these projects to cut traffic congestion as well as public suffering.
He also emphasised considering the opinion of experts, ahead of starting construction works, and concluding these works as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Dhaka City Corporation approved the construction of four footbridges at Shahbagh, Karwanbazar, Bangla Motor and Shonargaon intersections. Bangladesh Army will implement the projects.
The meeting also discussed the Mirpur-Airport Road Flyover project, the Kuril Flyover, Mayor Hanif Flyover, elevated expressway and proposed Bus Rapid Transit project.

Source- New Age

Expressway work from next month
Communications chief tells JS
Staff Correspondent
A guideline for introduction of modern communication technology in taxicabs has been prepared to reduce harassments to passengers and improve cab service, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain told the House yesterday.

He also said the construction of elevated expressway would begin from January.

According to the taxicab guideline, taxi service would be operated under companies. No individual would be given permission from now on to operate cabs, the minister said in a scripted answer.

A company has to have at least 1,000 taxicabs to obtain permission, the guideline says, adding that each company must have own radio communication system, cell phones and a control room with GPS system to maintain round the clock communication with its cabs.

"If anyone seeks to hire a cab, s/he can call the control room and the company will take immediate measures to provide the client with the service," said the minister.

From January next, stern actions as per the existing law would be taken against cab drivers if they refuse trips for no valid reason or charge passengers higher than the fixed rate, he said, adding that mobile courts would deal with the drivers that violate the guideline.

ELEVATED EXPRESSWAY
The communications minister said two of the four pre-qualified organisations have responded to request for proposal and submitted their proposals for the construction of the elevated expressway.

He said a team of experts is evaluating the proposals and an agreement would be signed this month.

"The construction work of the elevated expressway will begin in January next," he said.

Earlier, on August 23 this year, the cabinet finalised the route of the expressway i.e. from Shahjalal International Airport-Kuril-Banani-Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Saatrasta-Moghbazar rail crossing-Khilgaon-Kamalapur-Golapbagh to Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Kutubkhali point.

In response to a query on connecting Dhanmondi with the elevated expressway considering traffic congestion in the locality, the minister said there would be a new road from Gabtoli to Azimpur to ensure smooth traffic there.

PADMA BRIDGE
The government would soon float a tender for the construction of the Padma Bridge at Mawa-Jajira point, said Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain.

“Evaluation report of pre-qualified tenders will be sent to the donors on completion of tender process by December 25,” he said.

The minister said the government has so far received Tk 18,500 crore from different donor countries and agencies for the bridge construction.

An estimated Tk 21,000 crore will be needed to complete the bridge and the government will bear the rest of the expenditure, he said.

MASTER PLAN FOR RAILWAY
A master plan for overall development of the country's railway sector is now at the final stage, said the communication minister.

He said the government has taken various measures to expand the railway network across the country. A proposal for introduction of electric trains on Dhaka-Chittagong route was sent to the planning commission on December 10, 2009, he said, adding, "The next step in this regard will be taken on receiving foreign aid."

Source: The Daily Star

Govt to bear 27pc cost of Dhaka expressway

Munima Sultana

The government has agreed to bear 27 per cent construction cost of the planned Dhaka elevated expressway as it wrapped up negotiations with the project's Italian-Thai contractor, an official said Sunday.

The Ital-Thai Development Company will build the 26 kilometre expressway at a cost of 1.25 billion dollars in three and a half years after signing the deal with the government's bridge authorities.

"The negotiations over the elevated expressway have ended successfully. We hope we can sign the construction deal with the Ital-Thai on January 19," said a senior official of the Bangladesh Bridge Division.

As part of the agreement, Bangladesh government will contribute 23.50 billion taka - or 27 per cent of the 87.03 billion taka project cost - and in return will get 25 per cent of the toll for 25 years after the construction.

"We think it's a win-win deal. We haven't given any extra benefits to the company. The Ital-Thai will have to pay all taxes and VAT as per the country's laws to bring their construction equipment," the official said.

The toll of the expressway, the first infrastructure project being funded by public-private-partnership, has been fixed at 125 taka for a car. The rate will be double for buses and four times for trucks and six-wheelers.

"The government will earn an estimated 28 billion taka in 25 years. The figure has been calculated forecasting the number of maximum users at around 80,000 vehicles," he said.

Officials said the conclusion of the negotiations has ended the last vestige of uncertainty over the project, which even saw a legal challenge last month from one of the bid losers.

The government had earlier announced to bear 30 per cent of the project cost it intended to fund in the form of "subsidy". Both sides agreed to bring the government's share down to 27 per cent during last week's final negotiations.

Ital-Thai Development Company Ltd won the bid to construct the city's costliest infrastructure project last month after beating a joint venture of local and Korean firm in the bidding.

It offered the lowest construction price and passed the financial and technical tests.

The BBA, the executing agency of the expressway, has a target to complete the project by early 2014.

The elevated road's 26 km route starts at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and ends at Kutubkhali in Demra. It will touch Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Satrasta, Moghbazar, Kamalapur, Khilgaon and Golapbag.

Officials said project cost has gone up by around 12 per cent from the initial estimate after the bridge authorities decided to use box girders, instead of I-girder, for the expressway.

In its financial offer the Ital-Thai has given two options for construction of the elevated road: 778 billion taka if I-girders are used and 870.3 billion taka for box-girders.

They said the government opted for the "costly option" to make the expressway attractive.

The meeting agreed to provide 30 per cent of the acquired land to the investor in the first phase to fast-track the construction from Shahjalal International Airport to Kakoli at Banani.

The land will be handed over immediately after the signing of the agreement.

Source: Financial Express

Expressway gets go-ahead
Agreement in a week


Staff Correspondent
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs yesterday approved the Dhaka elevated expressway project paving the way for the government to sign a concession agreement with the project's private investor.

The approval came at a committee meeting at the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat.

“It will take a week to sign the concession agreement with the bid winner,” Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, secretary to Bangladesh Bridge Authority, told The Daily Star.

Bid winner Ital-Thai Development Company has to form a new entity and get it registered with the joint stock of companies to implement the 26-kilometre expressway project.

The cabinet committee asked the Bridge Authority to submit the minutes of the negotiations between the government and the bidder, which ended on Thursday, said a source in the meeting.

The bidder during final negotiations agreed to pay the government a one-time concession fee of $40 millions in addition to other financial benefits, said Prof Md Shamsul Hoque, a member of the tender evaluation committee.

The government however desired in the Request for Proposal that the concessionaire should pay it a concession fee of $25 million every year.

The bidder committed the government to providing it with other financial benefits that include 37.5 percent corporate tax of the income from the expressway, 15 percent VAT on every toll transaction and 11 percent customs duty on imported materials.

It also agreed to pay the government Tk 87 crore for transfer of technology. A part of the amount will be spent to set up an engineering institute to impart training on the new technologies to be used in the construction, said Prof Hoque.

The technical teams involved in tender evaluation opted for box type construction of the expressway, for which Ital-Thai offered a cost of Tk 8,703 crore.

The government has agreed to provide 27 percent of the construction cost as Viability Gap Fund from its Public Private Partnership fund.

The concessionaire has to start the construction work in three months after issuance of the work order and complete it in three and a half years.

The proposed route of the expressway starts from Shahjalal Airport via Kuril, Banani, Tejgaon, Moghbazar and Kamalapur Stadium along the existing railway track. It then runs through Gulbagh across the Demra road up to Kutubkhali via Dania.

Ital-Thai has agreed to a standard toll of Tk125 for a car from one end to the other and Tk100 for partial use of the expressway.

A public bus has to pay double the standard rate, a six-wheeler truck four times and any vehicle larger than that five times. Motorbikes will not get access to the facility for safety reasons.

The expressway will be handed over to the government after 25 years of concession period.

Source: The Daily Star

Deal inked for Dhaka expressway
Cost Tk 8,703cr
Staff Correspondent
Construction of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway will begin within the next six months with a target to complete it within three and a half years, according to a concession agreement signed yesterday.

Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA) signed the agreement with Italian-Thailand Development Public Company Ltd (Ital-Thai Company) for building the expressway at a cost of Tk 8,703 crore.

Secretary of the Bridges Division of the Communications Ministry Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and President of the company Tremchai Karnasuta signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides at a ceremony at Hotel Sonargaon.

“We will try to begin the construction in March to make sure it completes in three years,” Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain told journalists after the ceremony.

The Ital-Thai Company, through this contract, has been awarded the task of building the expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on Dhaka-Chittagong highway under public-private partnership (PPP).

The main expressway will be 21-kilometre long. Its total length, however, will be 26 kilometres due to inclusion of two link roads in it. There will be 35 ramps (entry and exit points) in it.

Under the 25-year concession agreement, the concessionaire has to complete the project in three and a half years from the date of issuance of the work order. The order will be issued soon.

If the constructor fails to complete the work by the stipulated time, it has to pay a liquidity damage of $50,000 per day from the next day of the deadline.

Contrarily, the government has to hand over 30 percent of the project land to the company within a maximum of six months and 35 percent each in the next two years.

Failing to hand over the land timely, the government will pay the company a compensation of $ 10,000 per day.

In case of delay caused by litigation, both the parties will take the next course through negotiation.

BBA sources said 60 percent of the expressway land is ready while the rest (from Golapbagh to Kutubkhali) will have to be acquired.

As per the deal, 50 percent of construction materials and expertise will be had from local market.

Advisers to the prime minister HT Imam and Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, President of Thailand Trade Kiat Sittheeamorn, Deputy Minister of Thailand's Trade Affairs Ministry Alonkorn Ponlaboot, Communications Secretary Mozammel Haq Khan and Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury attended the signing ceremony.

Italian-Thai signs $2 bln Bangladesh expressway deal

Jan 19 2011 (Reuters)

The Italian-Thai Public Development Company Ltd signed a deal on Wednesday to build and operate a $2 billion elevated expressway across the Bangladesh capital Dhaka for 25 years, officials said on Wednesday.

To be built by July 2014, the firm will enjoy the tolls from vehicles using the expressway before handing over the bridge to Bangladesh authorities in 2039.

"A deal has been signed between senior officials of the government and the joint venture firm on Wednesday," a spokesman of the Communications Ministry told reporters.

The construction of the four-lane 21 km (13 km) expressway will be funded under a public-private partnership project that envisages the builder and the Bangladesh government to bear the cost in a 73:27 ratio.

The four-lane 21 km (13 miles) elevated expressway will link Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International airport in the north of the capital to a point in the southeast to connect a highway leading to the port city of Chittagong.

The expressway will have two five km intersections at two mid points to link major streets in the capital.

"The construction will begin at the earliest," the spokesman quoted an official of the Italian-Thai Development Company as saying.

When built, the bridge operators will charge vehicles from 125 taka to 750 taka for using the expressway.

There are at least 700,000 registered vehicles operating in the capital Dhaka, officials of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority said.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3247/20110118headitd.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/i/20110118headitd.jpg/)

This is great news indeed:cheers:

Italian-Thai ready for major Dhaka expressway project

THE NATION Published on January 24, 2011


Italian-Thai Development (ITD) is confident that its elevated expressway project in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka will be completed in three and a half years as scheduled and provide a rate of return of 15 per cent.

ITD president Premchai Karnasuta said the firm would set up a new company in Dhaka and offer 60 per cent of its shares in the market to distribute risks. He added that many foreign investors and financial institutes were interested in providing loans or acquiring shares in the project.

ITD and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) signed a 25-year concession agreement for the project - the first of its kind in the country - on January 19. The first six months will be spent on detailed design, preparation and land expropriation, and the entire project should be completed in the following three years. Once the construction is completed, ITD will have its arm in Dhaka listed on the local stock market.

The project, worth US$1.25 billion (Bt38.37 billion), will be funded by ITD as well as project partners and bank loans. ITD is currently in talks with Standard Chartered, the Export-Import Bank of Thailand, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. The company believes that it will not be difficult to get funding, especially as the project involves providing infrastructure to Bangladesh. The repayment period is expected to be 12 years.

The investment will be in the form of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), in which the concessionaire designs, seeks funding, constructs and collects toll fees, while the government covers around 30 per cent of the total construction cost once the project has shown 30-per-cent progress.

ITD will pay 25 per cent of the total revenue as concession fees to the government once the number of vehicles using the expressway reaches 80,000 cars a day.

The Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project is part of the Bangladeshi government's efforts to ease the capital's worsening traffic problems. The 25.5-kilometre four-lane expressway will begin from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the north of Dhaka to Jatraburi.

According to the concession, the company will pay the authorities $50,000 a day if it fails to implement the project, and if the government fails to come up with 30 per cent of the project value, it will have to compensate the company $10,000 a day. The fines kick off after the initial three-and-a-half year period and will continue until the requirements are met.

Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot, who witnessed the signing of the concession, said the project should help boost bilateral trade.

Metro-rail route to be finalised in two weeks

The Cabinet in two weeks will review and finalise the route of the proposed metro-rail network to provide Dhaka commuters a mass rapid transit system and ease traffic congestion in the capital city, report agencies.

After meeting with a visiting mission of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at his office Monday, Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain told reporters that the proposed rail network would be built within the tenure of the current Awami League government.

JICA is providing financial assistance to the government for the project, which will be the first of its kind in the country.

The minister said the feasibility study of the project would begin in March after approval of the route by the cabinet.

Hossain said the Dhaka University authority requested the government to exclude the central library and the central Shahid Minar from the planned route.

He said the already planned route would have some minor changes to make it more convenient and beneficial to the commuters. As per the revised route, the metro-rail track will go through Uttara-Jahangir Gate, Farm Gate - Shahbag - TSC - Dowel Chattar -Press Club - Topkhana Road - Shapla Chattar - Kamalapur, he said.

"The route will go underground from Motijheel to Kamalapur due to Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover, which is 1.8 kilometers long. And the entire route would not conflict with other existing rotes including proposed Dhaka Elevated Expressway," Abul Hossain said.

Referring to the outcome of the meeting, he said JICA would provide soft-term loan for funding the project. The total length of the mostly elevated network will be 21.5 kilometers.

Earlier, Japan showed interest in financing 80 per cent of the US$1.7 billion project cost, and the government would finance the remaining 20 per cent from its own sources for the first phase.

JICA in a study earlier planned three routes to be built in three phases. The first stage of the metro rail will be built between Pallabi and Hotel Sonargaon crossing. The second stage will be between Sonargaon crossing and Sayedabad, and the third stage will connect two major suburbs Pallabi and Uttara.

^^
Is this a reincarnation of the much talked about underground rapid transit railway? Would this be mostly a surfaced based metro? If there are still discussing the project, God only knows when it will begin and be completed.

Traffic Jam Solution by taxi cab driver Muhammad Alli for Dhaka City (Part-1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AhCtaviGNQ&feature=BF&list=ULzyG5olq8Bv8&index=1

part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqBpp3W1xXM&feature=autoplay&list=ULzyG5olq8Bv8&index=2&playnext=1


must watch


hats off to the guy...he deserves my salutes for his thinking..thank you sir....unlike those so called pathetic experts you deserve it...

he is a bloody genius! deserves to be the mayor of dhaka!

Metro rail route gets cabinet nod
Project starts by June

Hasan Jahid Tusher and M Abul Kalam Azad
The government yesterday approved the proposed Uttara-Sayedabad route for metro rail and a proposal to form a Special Project Organisation (SPO) to start implementation of the project by June this year.

The approval came at a weekly cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The meeting also endorsed the communications ministry's proposal to halt construction of four underpasses from Hotel Sonargaon to Shahbagh as come in conflict with the metro route, officially known as Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6.

“The construction of the rail route will begin immediately and will be completed within 2013,” prime minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters after the meeting.

The government will form Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) at the earliest to implement and operate the MRT system.

The Tk 1.7 billion project of the 26 kilometre long metro from Uttara Third Phase to Sayedabad will be implemented in three phases under the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) to ease traffic congestion in the capital, according to a communications ministry summary placed before the cabinet yesterday.

The phases are Pallabi to Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Bank to Sayedabad and Uttara Third Phase to Pallabi. Later the route could be expanded up to Abdullahpur at Uttara, said the proposal.

Around 40,000 to 45,000 passengers will be able to travel the route in an hour, it added.

The communications ministry recently modified the route as it conflicted with the under-construction Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover.

The cabinet also approved a proposal to acquire land in Pallabi and Uttara Third Phase to establish depots for implementing the metro project.

The cabinet gave the approval after verifying a project summary of communications ministry, also known as MRT-6, prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

Jica pledged to build the metro with the state-of-the-art technology and its standard will be better than those available in Japan, said an official in the communications ministry.

According to the summary, Jica carried out a study on the original alignment of the metro and found it feasible.

Beginning from Uttara Third Phase, the original route was planned to cross Farmgate, Sonargaon Hotel, TSC of Dhaka University, Central Shaheed Minar, Fulbaria, Gulistan and Tikatuli before ending at Sayedabad.

As per the modified alignment, the route from Uttara Third Phase to TSC remains unchanged. From TSC, the route will divert towards Curzon Hall, Jatiya Press Club, Bangladesh Bank, Atish Dipankar Road and Sayedabad.

Experts found the modified alignment more feasible than the earlier one. They said the change in alignment will benefit Mirpur residents visiting Motijheel.

Jica, however, expressed unhappiness over the alignment modification saying it would take them extra time and money to conduct fresh study on the modified alignment. It will take at least four months more.

The agency then asked the government to commit no further changes to it and determine a time frame for the completion of other related aspects of the project.

After that the finance ministry sat with the government agencies concerned and a Jica team on February 15 to fix the time frame. It decided to form the SPO in line with Jica's demand to properly implement the project.

The communications ministry later assured Jica of not modifying the alignment further.

Source: The Daily Star

Govt to construct second elevated expressway on airport-Ashulia

Financial Express Report

The government is going to construct the country's second elevated expressway from Dhaka airport to Ashulia and Savar from next year to ease traffic jams in the key economic corridors, a secretary said Thursday.

The proposed 34-kiloemtre expressway will connect Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with the country's industrial hubs of Ashulia, Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), Chandra in Gazipur and Nabinagar near Savar.

"We have decided to start building the second elevated expressway early 2012 and complete by December 2014. It will be a public private partnership project," Bridge Division secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the FE.

The authorities have invited bids from leading construction firms for short-listing. Officials said the project could cost more than US$1.5 billion since it would be 13 kilometres bigger than the first expressway.

Thailand-based Ital-Thai Company has grabbed the project work of the 21 kilometre long Dhaka Elevated Expressway, the first of its kind in the country. The firm quoted Tk87.03 billion or $1.25 billion for the project.

The Ital-Thai is scheduled to start construction of the first elevated expressway from April this year and be completed by mid 2014. The second expressway will be connected with the first one at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport.

The government has 27 per cent stake in the Dhaka expressway but Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the authorities are open to any form of partnership for the second high speed road.

"Any local or international company or joint-ventures could join the bidding for the Airport-Chandra expressway. We want to shortlist the companies by May 10 this year," he said.

Simultaneously, the government will also launch a feasibility study, detailed route mapping and technical study of the project within months in an effort to fast-track the bidding process, he added.

Officials said the second expressway has become a must in the northern suburbs of Dhaka and the adjoining industrial hubs of Ashulia, Savar, DEPZ and Gazipur -- home to at least 3,000 garment and textile factories.

Because of acute traffic jam, an export-goods laden truck or container carrier takes at least four hours to cross 20-30 kilometres long road in the region. Narrow roads through the hubs also drastically slow down road connectivity with northern and north-western districts.

Top garment exporters have repeatedly complained that they lose hundreds of millions of dollars in additional fuel bills and delayed shipment because of acute jams in the areas.

For the last couple of years the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association have taken up the issue with the Prime Minister's Office and commerce and communications ministers, demanding construction of alternative roads to speed up export cargoes.

A Bridge Division official said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) to construct the Airport-Ashulia-Savar-Chandra elevated expressway during a national economic council meeting on February 24.

She approved a summary of the project last week in order to expedite the tender process and woo investors and contractors under the PPP financing terms, he said.

"The second elevated expressway has become essential to boost the country's economic growth. Once built, it will improve road connectivity between Dhaka and the country's main industrial hubs," Mr. Bhuiyan said.

ITD deal in Dhaka opens opportunities in Bangladesh
Published: 9/05/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business

Thai contractors will see greater opportunities to build basic infrastructure and public utilities in Bangladesh after Italian-Thai Development Plc won a contract for an elevated expressway in Dhaka.

The company won the bid to build the four-lane road in three-and-a-half years. This largest public-private partnership in Bangladesh is expected to create 5,000 jobs for Thai workers during the construction period.

The 40-billion-baht, 26-kilometre expressway will link Hazrat Shahjalal airport in northern Dhaka and Jatrabari district in the southeast of the city, helping to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance communications efficiency.

The Thai government was directly involved in negotiations with Bangladesh as part of its policy of supporting Thai construction businesses abroad.

The Bangladeshi government will own 30% of the project with financial support from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

Kiat Sittheeamorn, president of the Thailand Trade Representative, and other Thai officials recently attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the project.

He said Bangladesh, which still lacks basic infrastructure, is planning several megaprojects including ports, a superhighway network, a new international airport, mass-transit systems and power generation.

The government's "Bangladesh: Vision 2021" aims to make the country a regional economic and commercial hub by that year. Mr Kiat told officials that Thailand's public and private sectors were ready to help the country meet that goal.

Bangladesh also plans a 10-km elevated expressway to the north of the country and a highway connecting it with Nepal, Bhutan, eastern India, southwestern China, Burma and Thailand.

It needs new power plants to supply 5,000 megawatts on top of its existing supply of only 55,700 MW.

The current power shortage is an obstacle to attracting foreign investment.

Bangladesh has no restrictions on most foreign investment other than in arms, forestry, nuclear power and banknotes.

The Thai government recently approved a tax waiver on income generated from Thai investments abroad.

Source: Bangkok Post

Expressway to link 26 dists with Dhaka
2nd Expressway to be part of ASIAN Highway

http://www.theindependentbd.com/images/stories/2011/June/expressway.jpg

DHAKA, JUNE 26: The government is all set to construct a 34-km-long elevated expressway for $2 billion to link the capital with 26 districts in the north and south-west of the country.
The probable route for the two-lane expressway, expressed to reduce commuting time to a great extent in future, would start from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and pass through Abdullahpur-Ashulia-EPZ-Chandra road corridor connecting the Savar Martyrs Monument. It would be an extension to the country’s first elevated expressway.
The communications ministry’s bridge division intends to select potential international investors for funding and putting up the second elevated expressway on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.
An official of the bridge division told The Independent that the expressway would be a vital part of the Asian Highway Routes in Bangladesh. He said it would facilitate freight movement from Nepal, Bhutan and north-eastern India to and through Bangladesh by providing an important and improved transport link to the Trans-Asia highway.
He also said the bridge division had already received a pre-feasibility study report from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in this regard.
“We have invited bids from leading construction firms and investors to start the project early 2012 and complete it by 2014,” he said.
“The firms and investors should have requisite experience and qualifications in financing and constructing elevated expressways including elevated roads, elevated railways, bridges, flyovers, viaducts and interchanges on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) or build-operate-transfer (BOT) or public private partnership (PPP) basis, with a combined value of not less than US $500 million over the last 12 years," he added.
The official also said investors for the project would be selected through an international competitive bidding process from a pool of applicants who must meet the criteria set forth in the pre-qualification document. He added that selected investors would be provided Request for Proposal (RFP) for technical and financial bidding for the project.
In a bid to encourage movement of public transports and high-occupancy vehicles in the expressway, the authorities may offer preferential rates for them and have separate lanes for such vehicles, the official further said.
At the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting held on February 24, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed the authorities concerned to take up construction of the country’s first elevated expressway under PPP.
Work was started in April and is expected to be completed within 2014. A Thailand-based construction company, Ital-Thai Company Limited, is constructing the 21-km-long Dhaka Elevated Expressway for Tk. 8,703 crore.
The proposed second expressway would connect to the first one at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Source: The Independent

Seems like problems are occurring in land acquisition from several areas for the project. Esp. Nakhalpara, Kuril, Maniknagar, Sayedabad residents are regularly protesting to stop acquisition.

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Cancel land acquisition
Demand Nakhalpara residents

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Residents of the city's Nakhalpara area yesterday expressed concern over the acquisition of private land for the proposed Dhaka Elevated Expressway.

They demanded cancellation or a revised layout of the proposed Nakhalpara ramp of the expressway and acquisition of the least possible amount of private land for the project.

They made the demand at a human chain programme in the area yesterday. They also held a meeting with the local lawmaker on the issue.

More than 100 land owners of some areas of the city are going to be affected due to the land acquisition, said Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, joint convener of a committee for the movement.

The areas are Nakhalpara, Shahinbagh, Arjatpara, Rasulbagh, Baulbagh, Nakhalpara Bazar and Samity Bazar.

District administration officials are now earmarking up to 80 feet into private land for the acquisition, said Wadud, also a Nakhalpara resident.

As per the acquisition notice, Nakhalpara's seven mosques, Hossain Ali High School, Samity Bazar and Nakhalpara kitchen market would come under demolition, said Shamsuddin Liton, another resident of the area.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal promised the locals a meeting with the Bridges Division officials today to address the people's concerns.

The district administration is to acquire 18 acres of private land in the nine-kilometer first segment of the proposed route stretching from Shahjalal International Airport to Tejgaon. A total of 258 structures need to be removed on the said stretch of the expressway.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=220349

All set to start work on metro rail, PM tells JS


Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told the House that all including route selection are set to start construction of the dream project Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 in the city with the financial support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), reports BSS.
Replying to questions from lawmakers during PM's Question- Answer session in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS), the Prime Minister said the construction would surely be launched during the tenure of the present government.
"We are dependent on donors' support to implement big projects like MRT. Had we enough resources, we could have started construction of MRT line on our own," she said adding, "everything has been finalized with JICA and we hope that we will be able to launch its construction very soon".
About 20.1 kilometer MRT Line-6 will begin from Pallabi and pass through the west side of Rokeya Sarani and Farmgate, Hotel Sonargaon, Shahbag, TSC of Dhaka University, Doel Chattar, Topkhana Road and Bangladesh Bank. Later, the route will be extended up to Saidabad from Banagaladesh Bank point through Atish Dipankar Road, she said.
Due to shortage of fund, she said, the government is trying to generate fund under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for other big projects.
The Prime Minister said the government is carrying forward a massive plan to develop a planned, coordinated and modern multi- modal communication system for greater Dhaka linking the adjacent districts.
Under the plan, she said, a bill has been placed in the parliament to include Narayanganj, Munsiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur and Narsingdi under the jurisdiction of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority.
She said the government has undertaken a plan to introduce Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on four routes and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) on three routes in greater Dhaka, out of which one BRT and one MRT route have already been finalized.
The Prime Minister said the first BRT has been planned from Uttara to Saidabad through Pragoti Sarani, Malibag and Atish Dipankar Dipankar road while second BRT would be from Gabtali to Saidabad through Dhanmondi, New Market and Jahir Raihan Road (Palashi).
The third BRT will be constructed from Airport to Sadarghat through Mohakhali, Mogbazar-Ramna-Islampur and the fourth BRT will be stretched from Shahjalal International Airport to Gazipur connecting Tongi and Joydebpur square, she said.
About the MRT, Sheikh Hasina said, MRT Line-4 will be constructed from Uttara to Kamalapur passing through Mohakhali, Tajgano, Mogbazar and Khilgaon and MRT Line-5 will be a circular one, which will connect Gulshan, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Tejgaon, Rampura, Badda and Baridhara.
The Prime Minister said her government wants to develop railway as a state-owned reliable, safe and environment-friendly transport. But, long time negligence and shortage of locomotives have emerged as a big hurdle in providing expected service to the people, she noted.
She said her government has already introduced six new intercity rails, 14 mail/express and 14 local trains on different routes in addition to introduction of six new train service after constitution of separate ministry for railway.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has undertaken 34 new projects for development of railway involving around Taka 16,606 crore and approved 10 supplementary projects at a cost of Taka 5,388 crore.

Source: The News Today