DHAKA: The government-appointed expert committee suggested further analysis before finalizing the route of the much-awaited Dhaka Elevated Expressway, meant for smooth channeling of the capital’s chaotic traffic.
“We asked the consulting agency to analyse more various factors related to the proposed route,” Professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, head of the committee of experts, told banglanews24.com.bd after a meeting on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) mega-scheme at Shetu Bhaban Thursday.
Abdul Odud, Chief Engineer of Bridges Division and Project Director of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project, apprised banglanews24.com.bd of the progress in the route-planning exercise at his office after the meeting.
“Australia-based consultancy AECOM Australia Limited suggested four routes as well as alignment option two months ago. But, later on July 13, we asked them to place their final suggestions for one alignment,” Odud said.
“Later, this week, they submitted the fifth and final route,” he added.
He said the expert committee discussed five routes in Thursday’s meeting.
The other members of the expert committee are Prof. Shamsul Hoque, Dr. M Rahmatullah, Dr. Muslim Chowdhury and Dr. M Z Nizam.
Kant Wheeler, Consultant of AECOM, the Australian-based consulting agency, made power-point presentation and gave answer to queries from the experts on the committee.
Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said, “We have also given some directives to the agency.”
The route of the Elevated Expressway would be finalised after revising the final report as per the direction, said Abdul Odud, the project director.
Three of the four proposed routes from Uttara to Jatrabari should run through Kuril-Rampura-Khilgaon and the other through Banani-Mohakhali-Farmgate lines.
Sources said Bangladesh Bridges Authority wanted to build a 32-kilometer expressway from Tongi to Shyampur. But, now, they tailored the length of the expressway. It will now start from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and end at Jatrabari.
The Chief Engineer of the Bridges Division said, “We along with the Communications Minister want to see such a route as will prove more beneficial to the city-dwellers.”
“The benefit should come instantly,” he added.
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project will cost about US$ 2 billion and the investors would realize returns on their investment within a certain period by imposing toll.
“As the government has short-listed four investment companies from among nine participants in the bidding, now we want to sign deal with successful one by December this year,” the Project Director said.
On the short list are Ital-Thai Development Company Ltd (Italy-Thailand), Gammon-Bougyes JV (India-France), Sikder-KCC JV (Bangladesh-South Korea) and China Railway International Ltd (China).
On October 20, 2009, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the format of pre-qualification of investors while the Bridges Authority invited applications from international investors on November 19, 2009.
BDST: 1610 HRS, AUG 12, 2010 Words: 441
