ADB to fund expansion of four highways

Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund the expansion of the country’s four highways into four lanes, Road Transport and Highways Division said yesterday.

The highways are Dhaka-Sylhet, Rangpur-Banglabandha, Rangpur-Burimari and Barishal-Faridpur, the division said in a press release.

All four of the highways will have a separate lane for slow-moving vehicles, it added.

ADB Country Director Manmohan Prakash yesterday disclosed the funding details to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at the secretariat, the release said.

Following the request from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ADB decided to fund the upgrade, it mentioned.

Manmohan further said that feasibility studies for upgrading the Barishal-Faridpur and Rangpur-Burimari highways have already been completed.

Work for widening of highways to four lanes from Joydebpur-Elenga and Hatikamrul-Rangpur under South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity Projects are underway with ADB’s funding.

Besides, widening of Cox’s Bazar-Ukhia-Teknaf highway is also progressing with ADB’s funding.

Quader, also general secretary of Awami League, thanked ADB for its continuous support for development of the country’s road infrastructure.