Project cost to soar to Tk 28,000cr

The cost of constructing the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway is set to surge by approximately Tk 10,500 crore, taking the total project value from Tk 17,500 crore to nearly Tk 28,000 crore. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), which is overseeing the project, has prepared a proposal for the cost escalation, which is expected to be submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval at its next meeting.

According to project progress documents, the overall project completion, which began on November 12, 2022, reached 64.5% by October, while the physical progress of construction stands at 56.5%. Out of 4,247 poles planned under the project, 1,069 pole caps and 1,496 pole columns have been completed. In addition, 4,536 out of 4,776 T-girders for the flyover are finished, alongside 424 deck slabs out of 205 box girders.


A significant design change concerns the expressway bridge over the Turag River. The river's classification has changed from third to second class, prompting the need to increase the bridge height and adjust its length and width. Originally, the distance between pillars was 30.48 meters with a height of 7.6 meters from the river to the bridge bottom. The new plan extends the span to 90 meters and the clearance to 12.2 meters to facilitate navigation.

Other design updates include a new bridge and intersection in Bypail under Ashulia police station in Savar and integration of the metro rail with the expressway. The metro train from Kanchan will stop near the expressway at the third airport terminal before continuing to Kamalapur, creating a seamless connection between the expressway and the airport.

Economic factors have also contributed to the cost increase. When the initial Development Project Proposal (DPP) was drafted, one US dollar equaled Tk 84; it now costs about Tk 120. At the same time, the prices of construction materials have escalated sharply due to domestic inflation, further inflating the project cost.

The Ashulia Elevated Expressway, which was approved in 2017, is now visible on-site six years later, with the first pillar erected in 2023. Initially scheduled for completion in June 2026, the new completion target is December 27, 2027. The elevated highway will span from the EPZ in Savar to Kawla near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, linking with the existing Dhaka Elevated Expressway. Once complete, the 44-kilometer expressway section from EPZ to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chattogram road, including ramps, will cover about 82 kilometers.

The project, undertaken to alleviate traffic congestion in northern Dhaka and boost connectivity for Savar, Ashulia, Nabinagar, and adjacent industrial zones, is financed through a public-private partnership. China's Exim Bank is expected to provide a loan of Tk 9,692 crore, with the Bangladesh government covering the remaining cost. The loan has not yet been disbursed or waived.

Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Secretary of the Bridges Division and Executive Director of BBA, noted that the cost increase will affect multiple sectors, with approximately Tk 6,500 crore expected to be borne by the government. Construction-related costs alone are projected to rise by more than Tk 3,000 crore, while additional duties, taxes, and other expenses account for the rest.
Once completed, the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway is expected to enhance traffic flow, link 30 districts to the capital, and serve as a key artery for industrial and commercial connectivity, complementing Dhaka's growing urban transport infrastructure and contributing to the city's long-term development.