Work on Ctg elevated expressway resumes

The construction work of elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport which remained suspended for three months due to the coronavirus outbreak has restarted recently.

Due to delay in shifting electricity poles from roadside, the construction work is now going on at a snail's pace, officials said.

After shifting electricity poles, they said, the construction work will gain pace.

The piling work is continuing at some points while the pillars are now being constructed from Patenga to Saltgola.

So far more than 30 percent of the project has been completed.

A total of 200 piles, 40 pile-caps and 40 pillars have been completed so far. Besides, road expansion on both sides from Kathgarh to Cement Crossing has already been completed.

Sources said the project is expected to be completed by 2022. It has been divided into six segments -- Lalkhan Bazar to Dewan Haat (1,300 metre four-lane), Dewan Haat to Barik Building (2,000 metrefour-lane), Barik Building to Saltgola (2,900 metre four-lane), Saltgola to Cement Crossing (3,150 metre four-lane), Cement Crossing to Kathgarh (2,150 metre four-lane), Kathgarh VIP Road (2,350 metres) and Sea Beach to VIP Road (850 metres).

Sources said the elevated expressway to be set up on 450 pillars and 24 ramps at nine points will help reduce traffic congestion in the city.

All major intersections on CDA Avenue, the city's main street, will be connected with 24 ramps on the left and right of the expressway so that passengers can reach their destinations quickly.

The city dwellers expect that the traffic congestion in the entire city will be reduced a lot after the completion of this project. As a result, the fate of traders in the area will change. The work of the port will also increase.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the project at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on July 11, 2017. The cost of the project is estimated at Tk 3,250.83 crore.