In a significant development for Bangladesh’s infrastructure, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today (January 16, 2024) announced that the construction of Dhaka Elevated Expressway is set to be completed within this year. This statement was made during a press briefing at the Setu Bhaban earlier today, signaling a major stride in the country’s infrastructure network. Minister Quader informed that 50% of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway’s construction work has already been completed. With traffic flow already operational from the Dhaka Airport to Farmgate, the project is progressing swiftly. The remaining construction work is anticipated to be finished by 2024. 1 dead as bus, car collide on Dhaka Elevated Expressway In an impressive revelation about the Padma Bridge, Minister Quader stated that it is generating a daily toll revenue of Tk 2 crore. The total toll collection so far has reached a substantial amount of Tk 1,252 crore. This income stream signifies the bridge’s crucial role in the nation’s economic activities. Furthermore, Quader expressed optimism regarding the completion of the BRTA project in Gazipur by June of this year, marking another milestone in enhancing Bangladesh’s transportation infrastructure. Responding to queries from journalists, the General Secretary of Awami League addressed political rhetoric, criticizing BNP leaders for their “nonsensical” statements. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and appreciating the government’s efforts in national development instead of harboring envy over the country’s prosperity. Earlier in the day, Minister Quader engaged in discussions with officials of the Bridge Building and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority. He reviewed the progress of various projects, reflecting the government’s commitment to ongoing infrastructure development across the country. PM Hasina to open 3 mega projects inc. Elevated Expressway in Ctg tomorrow  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (September 02, 2023) inaugurated the 11.5 km Airport- Farmgate segment of 19.73-km Dhaka Elevated Expressway, the first of its kind in the country, raising high hope to reduce traffic congestion and commuters’ travel time in the capital. The long-awaited expressway, one of the mega infrastructure projects under the current government, will be opened to traffic on Sunday morning and it will take 10 minutes for a vehicle to reach Farmgate from Kawla with a speed up to 60 km per hour. This is the first project in the transport sector being implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) with foreign investment. The expressway has been decorated with placards and flags, which will be removed before the opening of the structure to traffic at 6:00am tomorrow (Sunday, September 03, 2023). Read more What are the toll rates for Dhaka Elevated Expressway? PM's younger sister Sheikh Rehana was also present at the event. The car carrying the prime minister entered the expressway from the north end in Kawla area near the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after paying toll at the toll plaza there. At that time, the prime minister paid Tk 2000 toll for 25 vehicles in her motorcade. The vehicles of of the motorcade fall under a toll slab of Tk 80 each. She got off the expressway in Tejgaon area to join a civic rally at the old trade fair ground in Agargaon. About 80,000 vehicles will be able to pass through the Dhaka Elevated Expressway every day, project officials say. The expressway is expected to increase traffic capacity within and around the city by improving connectivity between the 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 ease existing overloaded roads. Read: Which vehicles can’t use Dhaka Elevated Expressway? When fully completed, the Dhaka Elevated Expressway will run from the capital’s Kawla to Kutubkhali area of Dhaka-Chattogram highway via Kuril-Banani-Mohakhali-Tejgaon-Moghbazar-Kamalapur-Sayedabad-Jatrabari, according to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader. Vehicles will have to pay tolls for using the expressway. Tolls will be collected in four categories. Private cars, microbuses (

The much-awaited Dhaka Elevated Expressway – one of the mega infrastructure projects implemented by the current government – is set to open today (September 02, 2023) with big hopes of easing Dhaka’s traffic congestion and commuting costs by reducing travel time to a great extent. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Kawla-Farmgate section of the elevated expressway, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader had said. Read : Elevated expressway marks first of 9 megaprojects to be inaugurated before election The Dhaka Elevated Expressway will be open to traffic from 6 am tomorrow (September 03, 2023). The authorities have set the speed limit at 60 km while motorbikes and bicycles will not be allowed on the expressway. Once opened, it will take 10 minutes for a vehicle with a speed of up to 60km per hour to reach Farmgate from Kawla. About 80,000 vehicles will be able to pass through the Dhaka Elevated Expressway every day, project officials say. Read : Metro Rail and Padma Bridge prove AL believes in deeds, not words: Quader As per project details, the first contract was signed on January 19, 2011 and the reviewed agreement was signed on December 15, 2013, and the project completion period was from July 2011 to June 2024. The total length of the elevated expressway is 46.73 km including 19.73 km of the main elevated part. The Dhaka Elevated Expressway will cover Kawla, Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Kamalapur, Sayedabad, Jatrabari to Qutubkhali on Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Vehicles plying on Dhaka Elevated Expressway will have to pay tolls, which will be collected in four categories. Read : PM to inaugurate Agargaon-Motijheel section of Dhaka Metro Rail on Oct 20

The first-ever metro rail services on line-6 is going to be opened by December, 2022, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the three mega projects—Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel and Metro Rail Line-6 the next year. Metro Rail is not a dream now as it is a visible reality,” he said while inaugurating the test run of the metro rail for reassessing their performances. Read:Dhaka Metro Rail goes on trial run The overall work of Metro rail line-6 will be completed in the next six months and 62.29% work has been completed by August 31 while 88% work of from Uttara-Mirpur area has been completed, he said. The experimental movement of Metro rail over viaduct was launched around 11:45 am from Uttara Metro Rail depot. NM Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Tranjit Company Limited, representative from the Japanese Embassy in Bangladesh and representatives from Jaica and Metro Rail Advisory Organization were present during the inaugural programme.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said the number of vehicles without fitness certificates in Bangladesh is 4,81,029 as of December 2020.

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of former member of Chattogram South district Awami League and former president of Chattogram South district Bangladesh Chhatra League AKM Nazim Uddin.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said there would be no further complexities regarding the Road Transport Act as exaggeration will be avoided while enforcing the law.

Dhaka, Sept 23 (UNB) - Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said the ongoing drives against corruption, drugs and criminalisation will continue until the menaces are uprooted.