Dream highway stirs new hope
The four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong highway formally opens today amid high hopes that it would boost trade and make smoother road communications between the capital and the port city.
Considered as the country's economic lifeline, the highway would significantly boost export and import, and contribute to the country's GDP, say government officials and businesspeople.
It is the country's busiest road with daily traffic of around 30,000. But the highway having only two lanes was struggling to accommodate the rising volume of traffic, and saw nagging tailbacks regularly.
All these troubles are now a thing of the past as the highway has been expanded to four lanes from two. The travel time between the two cities has now come down to five hours from 10-15 hours.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the highway at 11:00am through video conference from Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.
Talking to The Daily Star, Abul Kalam Azad, former president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said, “We are happy and excited about the formal inauguration of the four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong highway. We have been waiting for this for a long time.”
It would now save both time and money, and boost the country's export and import, he added.
Faruque Hassan, senior vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said around 95 percent of the imported and exported goods are transported through the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
Now, the cost of doing business would come down. The reduction in travel time would cut transportation costs, said Hasan, also managing director of Giant Apparels Ltd in Uttara.
Bangladesh exports readymade garment items worth $27.5 billion of which more than 75 percent are transported through this vital highway.
“We will not get the full benefit of the highway until slow-moving vehicles are strictly barred from plying the road and enough rail overpasses, flyover and bridges are constructed immediately,” he said.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, “The highway will not only contribute to the country's economy but also give comfort to travellers every day.”
“Whenever possible, I inspected the highway to ensure that the work is done quickly, as there were a number of obstacles and challenges. I thank those who helped implement this project.”
Quader said the construction work of three four-lane bridges -- Kanchpur, Meghna and Gomti -- has already started with the Japanese government's assistance.
Once these bridges and a flyover in Feni are built, people would get the full benefit of the highway, he added.
POVERTY REDUCTION
As a major road communication project, this would generate employment in construction and transport sectors, according to the Roads and Highways Department.
It would improve distribution of farm products and enhance poor farmers' accessibility to urban markets. It would also create opportunities for the rural poor and improve the livelihood of day labourers, added the RHD officials.
VISIT TO HIGHWAY
On Wednesday, a group of correspondents of The Daily Star visited the highway to get a first-hand experience.
Traffic movement on the road was smooth. But drivers faced some problems, as markings and road signs were yet to be put in place in many parts of the highway.
Md Manju, a truck driver, said he had problems driving on the highway at night, as there were not enough markings and signs on the road.
The speed limit on the highway is 85 kilometres per hour.
Work was still going on in a few parts of the highway. Rail overpasses in Comilla, Feni and Chittagong, and a flyover in Feni's Mohipal were still under construction.
However, the construction of two underpasses, 14 bypasses, 242 culverts, 23 bridges, 61 bus bays and 39 footbridges have already been completed.
Even though there were no long tailbacks, vehicles had to stop or slow down at the entrance to the existing two-lane Kanchpur, Meghna and Gomti bridges.
There was traffic jam in some parts of the highway in Feni at night because of the ongoing construction work of the flyover.
Aftab Uddin Khan, director of the four-lane highway project, said the unfinished work such as putting in place road signs and markings would be completed in a month. “But it will take time to complete the construction of the three four-lane bridges, Mohipal flyover and three rail overpasses.”11
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