Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the opening of Dhaka Elevated Expressway is another milestone in the country's communication sector and will play a significant role in reducing traffic congestion.

"This is a new milestone in the communication sector. I have inaugurated Dhaka Elevated Expressway PPP project's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport-to-Farmgate portion. Work on its remaining portion will be completed soon," she told a rally at the old trade fair ground at Agargaon after the formal inauguration.

The prime minister said she has given the expressway as a gift to residents of Dhaka and the people across the country, adding that it would play a great role in developing communication between the capital and the rest of the country.

"The long-standing expectation of the residents of Dhaka has been fulfilled with the opening of the expressway. The expressway will play a great role in reducing traffic jams significantly," she said.

Dhaka north and south localities that included Shahjalal International Airport, Kuril, Mohakhali, Tejgaon,Farmgate, Moghbazar and Kamalapur will witness huge progress in reducing traffic gridlock, she said.

The prime minister extended her heartfelt thanks to all involved in building the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.

She inaugurated the much-awaited Airport-Farmgate section by unveiling the inaugural plaque at the old trade fair ground at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar this afternoon.

PM's younger sister Sheikh Rehana was present on the occasion.

Prayers were offered seeking divine blessings for the welfare of the country and its people.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan spoke on the occasion.

Mayors of Dhaka south and north city corporations Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Atiqul Islam, lawmaker from Dhaka-17 constituency Mohammad A Arafat and road transport and bridges affairs ministry's parliamentary standing committee Chairman Rawshan Ara Mannan were present on the dais while Secretary of the Bridges Division Md Monjur Hossain gave the welcome address.

Sheikh Hasina earlier unveiled the nameplate of the expressway at Kawla end of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The prime minister was the first person to pay a toll on the expressway.

The road transport and bridges minister received Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana with flower bouquets on their arrival at the Kawla, and then again at old trade fair ground. After the inauguration, the colourful balloons were released at the Kawla site.

After opening the expressway at Kawla end, the premier departed for Agargaon to attend a civic rally marking the grand opening of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway in the afternoon.

The Airport-Farmgate section will be opened to traffic tomorrow, officials said.

The length of this section is about 11.5 km. The total length of the elevated expressway is 46.73km covering Kawla, Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Kamalapur, Sayedabad, Jatrabari to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.