DHAKA: The route of the much-awaited Dhaka Elevated Expressway is going to be finalised within next week after getting the report from the consulting agency on the mega-project, meant for smooth channeling of the capital’s chaotic traffic.
In the meantime, the consulting agency has been asked to submit its report within this week and an expert committee, headed by Prof. Dr. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, will then design the route flying over the city from its northern to southern fringes.
Abdul Odud, Chief Engineer of Bridges Division and Project Director of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project, told banglanews24.com.bd about the progress at his office Monday.
“Australia-based consulting agency AECOM Australia Limited suggested four routes as well as alignment option two months ago. But we asked them on July 13 that they must submit their final suggestion for one alignment within the first week of August,” Odud said.
Three of the four suggested routes from Uttara to Jatrabari should run through Kuril-Rampura-Khilgaon and the other through Banani-Mohakhali-Farmgate lines.
Sources said Bangladesh Bridges Authority wanted to build a 32-kilometer expressway from Tongi to Shyampur. But, now, they tailored the length of the expressway. It will now start from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and end at Jatrabari.
The Chief Engineer of the Bridges Division said, ``We along with the Communications Minister want to see such a route as will be proved more beneficial to the city-dwellers.”
``The benefit should come instantly,” he added.
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project will cost about US$ 2 billion and the investor would pick up their investment within a certain period by imposing toll.
``As the government has short-listed four investment companies from among nine participants in the bidding, now we want to sign a deal with successful one by December this year,” the Project Director said.
On the short list are Ital-Thai Development Company Ltd (Italy-Thailand), Gammon-Bougyes JV (India-France), Sikder-KCC JV (Bangladesh-South Korea) and China Railway International Ltd (China).
On October 20, 2009, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the format of pre-qualification of investors while the Bridges Authority invited applications from international investors on November 19, 2009.
Earlier, Finance Minister AMA Muhith termed the setting of signing deadline for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) project ‘too ambitious’.
BDST: 1540 HRS, AUG 02, 2010
