Dhaka Elevated Expressway

Dhaka Elevated Expressway also called freeway or motorway, is a major arterial divided superhighway having at least two lanes with a breakdown lane or hard shoulder in each direction having controlled exit and entry and no level crossing. An expressway is constructed by adopting advanced geometric design eliminating all hazards and inconveniences of fast driving. The expressways are usually constructed between two important locations for smooth driving at high speed, greater safety, comfort, and convenience for passengers and drivers, reduced travel time, and lower operating cost. An elevated expressway is constructed at a higher level in the city area to eliminate ground-level obstructions.

Central Control Building of Dhaka Elevated Expressway

Dhaka elevated expressway is the first elevated expressway under construction in Bangladesh which will connect Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with Dhaka-Chittagong National highway N1 at Kutubkhali. This will pass through key locations of Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Maghbazar, Kamalapur, Syedabab, and Jatrabari of Dhaka city. The connectivity with the ground-level roads will be established by 31 entries and exits total 27 km. The expressway is 19.73 km long, having 2 lanes and a breakdown lane in each direction separated by a median. It is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project with an estimated 89,400 billion takas. First, Dhaka Elevated Expressway (FDEE) Company Ltd. will bear 73% of the cost, and the Government of Bangladesh will bear 27% of the cost.

The expressway will significantly reduce traffic congestion of Dhaka city's existing north-south bound roads. Upon completion of the expressway, a maximum of 15 minutes will be required to travel between Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport airport and the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, including any area around the elevated expressway. Apart from this, another elevated expressway named Dhaka Ashulia Elevated Expressway is in the project preparation stage. [M Feroze Ahmed]