Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Sunday said the government is planning major upgrades to road and rail connectivity in Sylhet including construction of six-lane highways to Dhaka and Chattogram and the introduction of a double-gauge railway line.

The Minister came up with the information while talking to reporters after attending an iftar gathering, organised by Sylhet Press Club at a city hotel on Saturday.

The land acquisition for the Sylhet–Dhaka six-lane highway will be completed soon and construction work in all blocks will start in full swing within the next two to two and a half months, he said

The minister said work on the Sylhet–Chattogram six-lane highway will begin around the same time and if all goes as planned, the project will be completed accordingly.

Besides, a significant portion of the Sylhet–Chattogram highway overlaps with the Sylhet–Dhaka six-lane route, he said, adding that a project proposal for the connecting section of the two highways will soon be sent to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) by the relevant ministry for approval.

The minister also said a project proposal is being prepared to install a Sylhet–Dhaka double gauge railway line.

Once implemented, travel time between Sylhet and Dhaka could be reduced to around three to three and a half hours, he added.