DHAKA: The cabinet Monday approved the proposed Dhaka Elevated Expressway from the airport to the Dhaka-Chittagong-highway point under a gigantic scheme for resolving the nagging traffic congestions in the capital city.
 
As approved, the elevated expressway runs through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport-Kuril-Banani-Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Satrasta-Maghbazar-Rail Corridor-Kamalapur-Khilgaon-Gopalganj-Dhaka-Chittagong highway (near Kutubkhali) route.

After a long-drawn planning and review of the expressway, the approval was given in a cabinet meeting held at the secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Prime Minister`s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters after the meeting that the Prime Minister asked for implementing “more such projects”.

The construction of the expressway under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project will start next year and continue till 2013 with an estimated cost of Tk 2000 crore.

The government has short-listed four investment companies from among nine participants in the bidding. 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).

In Monday’s meeting, the cabinet also approved the Voter List (Amendment) Act 2010 with provisions for letting expatriates cast their vote.

Besides, the cabinet approved a proposal for ratification of the SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS). 

“Bangladesh will get assistance in business, education and energy sectors from SAARC countries if the accord is ratified,” said the press secretary.   

BDST: 1920 HRS, AUG 23, 2010