Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway set to open in phases
Collected Photo
After facing prolonged complexities and obstacles, construction on the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway has finally regained momentum, with 67.50% of the structural work now completed. Instead of waiting for the entire project to finish, officials are planning to open ready sections to traffic in phases.
According to project authorities, the target is to open the Abdullahpur-Dhaur and Ashulia-Baipail stretches by this December. Following that, the Baipail-Sreepur section is slated to open before Eid-ul-Fitr. As a result, commuters and residents of Savar, Ashulia, Nabinagar, Baipail, and the EPZ area will begin reaping the benefits even before the entire project reaches completion.
The latest progress report shows an overall physical progress of 67.50% and financial progress of 56.02% as of August, with total overall progress recorded at 73%. Approval for various structural designs has also advanced significantly, reaching 92.30%.
Construction officially began on November 12, 2022. Early delays stemmed from land acquisition issues, utility shifting, and design modifications, creating uncertainty around the project timeline. However, most of these hurdles have since been resolved, accelerating physical work on-site.
Out of 5,164 planned piles, 4,617 have been completed. Among 1,444 pile caps or cross beams, 1,248 are finished. Progress also includes the completion of 1,779 out of 2,215 pier columns and 908 out of 1,267 pier caps.
For the main elevated superstructure, 6,649 out of 9,427 T-girders have been cast, with 6,345 already erected in place. Additionally, 208 out of 216 box girders and 910 out of 1,233 deck slabs have been completed. Project Director Md. Shafiqul Islam confirmed that no major complications remain, stating that further cost overruns or deadline extensions will not be required. The entire project is targeted for final completion by June 2028, with individual sections opening to traffic as soon as they are ready.
Despite ongoing progress, the project has experienced a substantial budget increase. Originally estimated at Tk 17,554 crore, the revised cost now stands at Tk 27,085.68 crore—an increase of nearly Tk 9,532 crore. Key factors driving up expenses include structural design changes, US dollar appreciation, surging construction material prices, and updated tax and tariff structures. The approval process for the revised cost—funded jointly by the Exim Bank of China and the Bangladesh Government—is at an advanced stage.
The most significant structural design change occurred over the Turag River. Originally classified as a Class-3 waterway during initial planning, the Turag was later upgraded to Class-2, requiring higher vertical clearance and wider horizontal navigation spans for vessel movement.
Under the initial design, the pier-to-pier distance over the Turag was set at 30.48 meters, with a vertical clearance of 7.6 meters beneath the bridge deck. The updated design increases the maximum navigation span to 90 meters and vertical clearance to 12.2 meters. This modification expanded both the bridge dimensions and overall construction expenditures.
Under the new design, a new bridge and intersection have been added in the Baipail area of Ashulia, Savar. Provisions have also been incorporated to connect the expressway directly with the Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and to integrate it with the Mass Rapid Transit (Metro Rail) network.
This elevated expressway is being constructed from the Savar EPZ to Kawla near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. It will merge with the existing Dhaka Elevated Expressway, creating a seamless, uninterrupted 44-kilometer route stretching from the Savar EPZ all the way to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.
Including ramps, the total length of the project will be approximately 82 kilometers. This comprises a 24-kilometer main elevated corridor, 10.83 kilometers of ramps, a 1.95-kilometer flyover in Nabinagar, and 2.72 kilometers of bridges. Additionally, 14.28 kilometers of new at-grade roads and 18 kilometers of drainage and utility ducts will be constructed.
Initially, the project was targeted for completion by June 2026. The implementation deadline was later extended to June 2030. However, project officials now confirm that ready sections will be opened to traffic sequentially before the entire project reaches final completion.
As a result, residents across vast areas of northwestern Dhaka will begin experiencing the benefits of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway long before its full completion. Beyond mitigating chronic traffic congestion in Savar, Ashulia, Nabinagar, Baipail, and the EPZ zone, the project aims to significantly streamline entry into Dhaka for commuters from nearly 30 northern and western districts.
