DHAKA: Ending all uncertainties, the construction works of much-awaited Dhaka Elevated Expressway, linking from Airport to Jatrabari, began on Thursday.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader inaugurated the construction works in the city’s airport area in the morning.

The minister said, “The city dwellers will get the actual benefit of the expressway in 2017.”

The 20-kilometer long expressway is being constructed under a public-private partnership (PPP) project involving a total of Tk 8,940 crore.

Of the total amount of money, the government is financing Tk 2,418 crore while private investors are providing the rest.

The minister said the construction work of the project was scheduled to begin much earlier, but alignment and land acquisition complexities delayed the beginning of construction.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to sit repeatedly on the matter and we have begun the construction work finally, Obaidul added.

Ending all speculation, the dream project of the country’s people began after overcoming all the hurdles, said Quader.

The expressway construction will be completed within next three years and five months according to the project implementation period.

According to Bangladesh Bridge Authority, Routes of the four-lane Dhaka Elevated Expressway has started at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and run alongside New Airport Road, along the rail alignment through the Mohakhali, Tejgaon and Moghbazar to Kamalapur rail station and then the Expressway will pass through Golapbag south of the Kamalapur Stadium, east of Jatrabari and connect to Dhaka-Chittagong Highway near Kutubkhali.

The elevated links (EL) are Manik Mia Avenue-Holy Cross College-Tejgaon Crossing, and Palashi-Katabon-Hatirpul-Hotel Sonargaon (backside)-Moghbazar Rail Crossing.

The Expressway will increase traffic capacity within and around the city by improving connectivity between northern part of Dhaka City with the Central, South and South-Eastern part.

In addition to providing a much-needed increase in traffic capacity, the Expressway will relieve existing overloaded roads and avoid adding congestion to existing facilities.

Bangladesh Bridge Authority secretary Anwarul Islam, Syeda Munna Tasnim and Thailand ambassador to Dhaka were present there.

BDST: 1520 HRS, OCT 30, 2014