The construction work of Dhaka-Chittagong expressway will begin next year.

This was informed at an inter-ministerial meeting at the Communications Ministry in Dhaka yesterday.

Azimat Consortium, a Malaysia-based international investment firm, proposed to the government to implement the four-lane 210 kilometre-long expressway project at an estimated cost of 896 million dollar.

The meeting said that the expressway would be a separate route to Chittagong from the capital via Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Sonagaji, Sitakunda and Hathazari.

Every lane of the expressway would be 3.5 metre (12 feet) wide and it would be an eight-lane highway in future.

The CCTV cameras will be installed in several points of the expressway to ensure safety and security.

Besides, there would be arrangements for parking point, toilet, leisure room, prayer room and food court. Short flyovers will be constructed at several places.

The Malaysian consortium comprising six construction firms has agreed to bear all the costs of the expressway.