With construction ongoing on the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, there are concerns that travellers heading to the northern region for Eid may face significant difficulties.
A visit along various sections of the expressway revealed ongoing work on the Tongi-Ashulia-EPZ and Nabinagar-Chandra highways. Construction materials and equipment are scattered across multiple spots, while protective barriers have been installed in some areas to ensure pedestrian safety. As a result, several sections of the roads have become narrower. However, authorities have set up diversion routes at certain points to reduce commuter inconvenience.
The Nabinagar-Chandra highway is one of the main routes for people travelling from Dhaka to 17 northern districts during Eid. Every year, traffic congestion occurs on this route due to heavy vehicle volumes, turning a journey that should take minutes into hours. Authorities take extra measures to keep traffic flowing, but even these efforts often fail to fully ease travellers’ discomfort.
Sultan Anwar, a garment worker travelling from Abdullahpur to Baipail via the Tongi-Ashulia-EPZ road, said: “Even during normal times, it takes two hours to cover a 40-minute journey because of the road conditions. The difficulty multiplies during Eid.”
Humayun Kabir, a bus driver, added that sections of both highways have become blocked. “If no action is taken immediately, the hardship will only worsen. Rickshaws speeding along the highways will become a major issue. Commuters will bear the brunt if no control is exercised.”
Shaikh Shahjahan, Officer-in-Charge of Savar Highway Police Station, told Jago News: “We always take extra precautions for Eid travel, and this year is no different. We are aware of the construction on the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway and have informed the relevant authorities about obstacles on the roads. We hope a proper solution will be found.”
Status of Construction Work
Authorities of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway confirmed that approximately 58% of the physical work has been completed. The project was approved in 2017 with an estimated cost of Tk 16,901 crore and a completion deadline of June 2022. However, delays in finalising loan agreements postponed fieldwork. As a result, the project was revised, extending the deadline to June 2026 and increasing the budget to Tk 17,553 crore.
After completing more than 58% of the work, authorities have initiated a second revision, increasing the cost by an additional 55% and extending the completion deadline to June 2028.
Md Shafiqul Islam, Project Director of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, said: “Travellers experience temporary inconvenience in construction zones. However, we are making every effort to minimise the hardship. Measures are being taken with maximum caution to manage vehicle congestion effectively.”