Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said about 450 kilometres of highways were upgraded to four-lane across the country in the last 12 years. “In the last 12 years, around 450 km highways were upgraded to four-lane across the country and works continue to upgrade another 450 km to four-lane,” he said. Quader, also the Awami League general secretary, revealed this information while speaking at a discussion on the 8th Five-Year Plan through videoconferencing from his official residence in the capital. He said not only the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry is involved in the implementation of safe roads, but also various ministries and agencies are involved in this process. The issue of coordination among all stakeholders in ensuring safe roads should clearly be brought into the planning documents, said the road transport and bridges minister. He said: “Now road accidents are the biggest concern for us and ensuring safe roads are the biggest challenge too.” Quader said the government is working with a timeframe for the construction of six metro rail routes by 2030, while works on one route is progressing fast. Physical works of two other routes will begin soon and the works of Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is also progressing fast, he added. He said an initiative has been taken to introduce bus rotationalization aiming to restore discipline in city transportation and coordination is urgent for an efficient transport system too. About the construction of Padma Bridge, the road transport and bridges minister said 34 spans of the bridge have already been installed with 5.1 km being visible now. He said digging works of one tube (out of two) of Bangabandhu Tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli River has also been completed. Besides, he said, about 56 percent work of the first phase of the elevated expressway has been completed. About the BNP’s allegations, Quader said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the government was walking on the path of depoliticization and hatching intrigues. “We said it before and we are still saying that the government does not want depoliticisation, but it wants a more capable and strong opposition in the interest of the country’s democracy and healthy politics,” he added. The AL general secretary said the AL never hatches any conspiracy against anyone but it had been the victims of plots many times. He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government believes in democracy and it is advancing towards the next election with the confidence of the people. “The role of the opposition is very important in this progress,” he added. Quader urged BNP to play a strong and responsible role as an ally in the democratic process. Chaired by Planning Commission member and senior secretary Shamsul Alam, the meeting was joined, among others, by Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan and Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar. Source: BSS AH

The government has taken initiatives to turn Dhaka-Joydevpur-Mymensingh road into 10-lane. If it is constructed then it will be the first international quality expressway in the country. The cabinet has approved a proposal in this regard which will cost 3,353 crore taka. Korea Overseas and Development Corporation will implement the construction work of the expressway under Public Private Partnership (PPP). The proposal was approved in a virtual meeting of the finance committee presided over by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday. Later the minister informed the newsmen about the matter. The Finance Minister said, approval of ‘Improvement Dhaka-Joydevpur-Mymensingh road into expressway with service both sides’ has been given. A South Korean company will construct the road. He said, the existing road comprises four lanes and it will be widened. We have found good company. They with help of the government will perform the road widen activities. AHM Mustafa Kamal said, the Korean company will bear all the expenses. The primary cost is fixed at 3,353 crore taka and the government will not spend any money for that. Because, the existing four lane road was constructed by the government. The extended road will be attached to the existing road. But the government will bear the cost of 280 crore taka for rehabilitation and 100 crore taka for utility services. The Koprean company will bear the rest 3,353 crore taka. According to the Roads and Highways Directorate sources, if the 87.18 kilometers four-lane road between Joydevpur and Mymensingh is turned into 10-lane then it would take one and half hours to reach Mymensingh from Dhaka. There will be emergency lane for running security vehicles, ambulance and VIP vehicles. Underpass and U-turns will be constructed after 2 to 3 kilometers distances. There will also be some interchange link roads. AH

Dhaka-Sylhet, Rangpur-Banglabandha, Rangpur-Burimari and Faridpur-Barishal highways will be upgraded into four lanes. The Road Transport and Highways Division said that the projects have been implemented by Asian Development Bank (ADB). ADB Country Director Manmohan Parkash informed this after holding a courtesy meeting with Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at the secretariat on Wednesday. He said, ADB is going to finance these development activities following request from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. By this time the feasibility test activities to upgrade Faridpur-Barishal and Rangpur-Burimari highways have been completed. Meanwhile, in a press release of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry said, there will be separate lane for the slow moving vehicles in the highways. In the meeting the Road Transport Minister thanked ADB for their efforts for continuous infrastructural development activities in the country. AH