Start declared on Bangladesh expressway

DHAKA — Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the construction of a mega China-funded elevated expressway project.

On Saturday from her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka, she opened construction work virtually for the 24-kilometer Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway.

The project, forecast to cost the equivalent of $1.72 billion, aims to enable quick entry and exit of vehicles to and from Dhaka and facilitate transit trade with regional countries.

China's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Li Jiming, said the expressway will improve Bangladesh's transportation and promote its role in regional connectivity.

It is in line with the purpose of the Belt and Road Initiative in promoting infrastructural connectivity, and is another example of how Bangladesh's Vision 2041 plan and the BRI integrate and benefit the peoples of both countries.

Bangladesh's Bridges Division had already signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation to build an elevated expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to Ashulia on the outskirts of the northern part of the capital.

The work will be carried out with Chinese financial assistance on a government-to-government basis.

Plans for improving 14.28 km of existing road and building toll stations, exit and entry ramps and other ancillary works are included in the elevated expressway project, which is expected to be completed in five years.

When it is completed it will allow 40 million people from 30 districts in the country to enter and exit Dhaka quickly and easily.

Project documents forecast that it will increase the country's GDP by 0.21 percent.

Xinhua