Bridge Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf. File photo

DHAKA, Oct 7, 2026 (BSS) - Bridge Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf today directed authorities concerned to complete the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project within the stipulated timeframe maintaining quality.

“It is necessary to maintain constant coordination with all stakeholders to promptly address the project's challenges and ensure timely completion of the work,” he said while talking to BSS after holding a coordination meeting at Baipail.

Rouf said construction of the approximately 3.71-kilometre service lane section is now at its final stage, while the two service lanes are expected to be opened to traffic within this month.

He instructed the authorities to minimise public inconvenience caused by the construction work through deploying additional manpower, adding, “Ensure effective traffic management and adequate safety measures at the construction site are important.”

According to the project details, the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway is being constructed in a way that will not obstruct the natural flow of water in the Turag River along the section from Dhour More to Ashulia Bazar.

The overall progress of the expressway reached 71.50 percent by June this year, while physical implementation stood at 65 percent.

Officials said construction work is progressing at a fast pace and preparations are underway to open selected sections of the expressway to traffic by this month.

Construction of the country's second elevated expressway, the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, began on November 12, 2022. The project aims to ease traffic congestion in the capital while ensuring faster road connectivity between Dhaka and the northern and northwestern regions of the country.

The first Dhaka Elevated Expressway, which was implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway is being financed through foreign loans.

The project is being constructed by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), with financing provided by the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank).

The Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway will have a main alignment of 24 kilometres, complemented by 14 ramps with a combined length of 10.83 kilometres, the project details said.

It said the project also includes a 1.95-kilometre flyover at Nabinagar and a 2.72-kilometre bridge along the Ashulia-Dhour embankment. In addition, the project comprises 14.28 kilometres of roads and 18 kilometres of drainage ducts within the project area.

Once completed, the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway will be directly connected to the Asian Highway network, creating opportunities for enhanced cross-border road connectivity.

The expressway will also provide seamless links with the Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Jamalpur, Dhaka-Manikganj-Tetulia and Dhaka-Mawa-Barishal highways, significantly improving the country's road transport network.

Vehicles using the elevated expressway will be required to pay tolls at rates to be fixed by the authorities.