Elevated Expressway Project Overview
The Dhaka Elevated Expressway is an urban expressway project designed to address chronic traffic congestion in Bangladesh's capital. Extending 46.7 km from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway connection point, the elevated corridor is expected to reduce travel time on the route from more than three hours to around 45 minutes after full completion. Structured as a PPP project, it is one of Bangladesh's largest road infrastructure investments, with a total project cost of USD 2.6 billion.
Route Structure and Facilities
The route is divided into three sections. Section 1, from the airport to Kuril, spans 19.7 km and passes through the urban core with six lanes. Section 2, from Kuril to Kanchpur, extends 12 km with four lanes. Section 3, from Kanchpur to Mawa, covers 15 km and functions as the highway connection segment. The project includes 10 interchanges and three toll plazas, while the space beneath the elevated road is planned for public parking and green areas.
| Section | Length | Lanes | Interchanges | Project Cost | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1 (Airport-Kuril) | 19.7km | 6 lanes | 5 | $1,200M | Urban core, highest complexity |
| Section 2 (Kuril-Kanchpur) | 12.0km | 4 lanes | 3 | $650M | Industrial corridor |
| Section 3 (Kanchpur-Mawa) | 15.0km | 4 lanes | 2 | $750M | Highway connection |
| Total | 46.7km | 4-6 lanes | 10 | $2,600M | 25-year BOT |
PPP Project Structure
The Elevated Expressway follows a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model under which the project company constructs and operates the expressway before transferring it to the government after 25 years. A consortium of China Railway Group and Italian-Thai Development serves as the lead developer, while the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) acts as the government-side partner. Toll revenue is the primary income source, and based on daily traffic of 50,000 vehicles, annual toll income is estimated at about USD 180 million.
Progress Status and Key Challenges
Section 1, which spans 19.7 km, was initially targeted for partial opening in 2022, but the timeline was pushed back due to COVID-19 disruptions and delays in land acquisition. As of end-2023, Section 1 had reached 72% completion, Section 2 stood at 45%, and Section 3 had completed the design stage. Because the project is being built within a dense urban environment, traffic management, relocation of underground utilities, and complaints related to noise and vibration remain major execution challenges. Additional negotiations are also under way due to cost escalation.
Korean Business Participation and Opportunities
Direct participation by Korean firms has so far been limited, but downstream supply opportunities remain open. Competitive areas for Korean suppliers include bridge bearings, expansion joints, noise barriers, intelligent transport systems (ITS), and electronic toll collection (ETC) systems. In particular, Sections 2 and 3 have not yet entered full-scale construction, leaving room for equipment and materials supply opportunities.