The first 18-kilometer-long section of the Chinese-built Dhaka Bypass Expressway in Bangladesh was officially opened on Sunday, helping to slash travel times and ease traffic congestion in the populous megacity of Dhaka.
As the first fully enclosed expressway in Bangladesh, the road is set to span a total length of 48 kilometers once completed and will cut the current four-hour travel time along this route in half once it becomes operational.
Located in the eastern part of the Dhaka Division, the project links industrial zones in northern and northeastern Bangladesh and connects multiple national highways, serving as a vital transport artery between Dhaka and Chattogram, the country's second-largest city.
With a population of over 20 million, Dhaka has long struggled with severe traffic congestion, and local officials say the project will play a key role in relieving the gridlock in the densely-populated city.
With an overall investment of 412 million U.S. dollars, the highway is being invested, constructed, and operated by the Sichuan Road and Bridge Group (SRBG).
During its construction, the project adopted Chinese technology and standards, contributing valuable solutions to local sustainable development efforts and also helping train local talents in road infrastructure building.
"Given the shortage of raw materials in Bangladesh, even gravel needs to be imported from other countries. Therefore, we employed China's semi-rigid pavement technology and used the abundant river sand found here by adopting cement-stabilizing sand technology. This has not only saved land resources for the local area but also made important contributions to low-carbon emission reduction," said Xiao Zhiming, CEO of the Dhaka Bypass Expressway Development Company.
Work on the second section of the Dhaka Bypass Expressway continues and is expected to be fully completed by June next year.
First section of new Chinese-built expressway opens in Bangladesh
