Travel
time between the capital and the port city has reduced to half
following the completion of the project of upgrading Dhaka-Chittagong
highway to four-lane.
It is now possible to travel from Dhaka to
Chittagong in four to five hours as there is no traffic jam on
Dhaka-Chittagong highway, known as the lifeline of country's economy.
This has eased transportation of export-import goods and lowered transportation costs as well, people concerned said.
Officials said the four-lane project was implemented at a cost of about Taka 3,800 crore under 15 packages.
Besides
roads, the project included construction of 23 bridges, 242 culverts,
three railway overpasses, 14 road bypasses, two underpasses, 34 steal
foot over-bridges and 61 bus bays. Threes and flower plants have been
planted on the five-meter wide road divider to make the highway
environment friendly, eye-catching and pleasant to the travelers.
Chinese government organization Sinohydro Corporation Limited implemented seven packages of road construction.
It
has built 139 kilometers of the 193- kilometer four-lane highway from
Daudkandi in Comilla to Chittagong City Gate. The rest 54 kilometer
four-lane highway has been constructed by Reza Construction and Taher
Brothers under three packages.
Sinohydro Corporation Senior Engineer
Qiao Jie told BSS that their organization signed an agreement on January
9 in 2010 with a condition of completing the work by 2013.
But the
project was delayed because of shortage of soil, land acquisition
problem, political instability and other complications.
However, the
project completed on June 23 in 2016 and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
inaugurated the four-lane highway on July 2. The Sinohydro Corporation
official said cost of seven packages of the company was Taka 1,150
crore, which finally increased to Taka 1,600 crore.
Under the agreement, they constructed 24 foot over-bridges, 170 culverts and planted 28,000 saplings.
As per the agreement their company will maintain the highway till June 17, 2017, the official said.
Sinohydro
Corporation Deputy Project Manager Chen Zheng Shan said their experts
have made road bends straight as much as possible in view of the issue
of road accident. A bus driver of Hanif Paribahan, Abdul Malek said
Dhaka-Chittagong travel time has reduced to four to five hours from
seven to eight hours after the inauguration of the four-lane highway.
The incidence of road accident has also declined, he added.
Tank lorry driver Abul Akher appreciated the people of China for making the road using their experience. BSS
