Seven road projects prioritised

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday told parliament that the government had prioritised seven road projects after the signing of the motor vehicles agreement for establishing road connectivity among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.

The projects are expansion of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and constructions of the Padma Bridge and its immediate approach roads, new four-lane Kanchpur, Meghna and Gumti bridges, four-lane road between Benapole and the proposed Padma Bridge-2, four-lane Joydevpur-Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur-Burimari/Banglabandha highway, four-lane Dhaka (Kanchpur)-Narsingdi-Sarail-Sylhet-Tamabil highway, and four-lane Baraierhat-Heako-Ramgarh highway.

The minister said, “...a unique road network would be established among the four countries, which would infuse a new dynamism in the economy of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal and create a new dimension in relationships among these countries.” He said private, passenger and cargo vehicles would move between the four countries almost like Europe. The agreement, signed on June 15, is a milestone on communication diplomacy in strengthening sub-regional harmony and solidarity, he added.

The minister said construction of the Padma Bridge was going on in full swing and the piling work would start in October.

He also said construction of the proposed metro rail in the capital would start in February 2016, while an agreement for construction of a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River would be signed late this month with a company nominated by China.