Underpass to link everything in airport area

The government will build a 1.07km underpass in the capital's airport area to link Dhaka airport terminals, railway, BRT, MRT stations and the Hajj camp.

The project's proposed cost is Tk 1,184 crore, which would be borne by government coffers, and the duration would be from July 2023 to June 2025, documents show.

This Roads and Highways Department project is to be implemented by the 24 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Bangladesh Army. Its feasibility was conducted by JPZ Consulting (Bangladesh) Ltd, shows document.

The underpass will have lifts, escalators, travelators (moving walkways) and other facilities.

Upon receiving the Development Project Proposal, the Planning Commission had a meeting with the authorities concerned and asked them to resubmit it with "little but necessary changes", meeting sources said. 

Currently, the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway is one of the busiest roads in the country with Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on one side and the Airport Railway Station on the other.

Upon arrival at the airport, one has to cross the thoroughfare with luggage in hand and get to the other side to catch a bus or train, as the footbridge nearby can accommodate only 14,777 people per hour at best, which is considered insufficient, the documents show.

Those going to the Ashkona Hajj camp have to cross the road too.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority is also building two elevated expressways -- one from the airport to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway and one from the airport to the Dhaka EPZ on the Nabinagar-Chandra Highway.

The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd's implementation of the country's first underground metro rail (Mass Rapid Transit Line-1) from the airport to Kamalapur has already started, while a dedicated bus corridor from the airport to Gazipur is being constructed.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh is currently building the third Dhaka airport terminal.

"The airport area will turn into a transport hub, and the underpass will facilitate travel from one mode to another mode," RHD Chief Engineer Md Ishaque told The Daily Star yesterday.

The document shows a maximum Tk 584.59 crore will be spent on the 1.07km tunnel construction, and Tk 227.85 crore on soil cutting and strengthening.

The eight lifts, 28 escalators, 25 travelators, and other facilities will cost Tk 105.57 crore, while the rest will be spent on other works.