In the first 24 hours of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway’s operation, 22,805 vehicles used the Airport-Farmgate segment, generating Tk18.5 lakh in toll revenue, according to Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) officials.
On Sunday, the Dhaka Elevated Expressway was officially opened by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, marking a significant milestone in the city’s transportation infrastructure. This ambitious endeavor holds the potential to greatly ease Dhaka’s longstanding traffic congestion problems. With the expressway now operational, the journey from the airport to Farmgate can be completed swiftly in just 10 to 12 minutes.
Notably, this project stands as the inaugural endeavor in the transport sector being executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) with international investment.
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22,805 vehicles used in 24 hours, Tk18.5 lakh toll collected
In the initial 24 hours since its opening, an impressive 22,805 vehicles made use of the Airport-Farmgate section of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. This resulted in the collection of Tk18.5 lakh in toll revenue, as reported by officials from the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA).
The figure of southbound vehicles between Sunday 6 am to Monday 6 am was 14,667, including 12,242 traveling from the Airport to Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Mohakhali, and Farmgate, and 2,425 traveling from Kuril to Kamal Ataturk, Mohakhali, and Farmgate.
On the other hand, 8,138 northbound vehicles traversed the expressway, with 2,892 originating from Banani and 5,246 originating from Tejgaon.
The Bridge Authority officials have stated that the expressway is designed with the capacity to accommodate up to 80,000 vehicles daily. Additionally, the Authority has offered investors a guarantee for a minimum of 13,500 vehicles per day.
Commuters shared thoughts, excitement
On the opening day, commuters shared their thoughts and expressed their excitement for a future free of traffic woes and lengthy commutes.
Mizanur Rahman, a long-time Uttara resident of 20 years, is one of the earliest individuals to have experienced the newly opened Dhaka Elevated Expressway. ‘It [the expressway] will bring a great deal of convenience to people’s journeys. Whenever I needed to go to Farmgate, Moghbazar, or Old Dhaka, it used to be a source of worry,’ explained Mizanur Rahman, as he parked his SUV at the Kawla Point entrance of the elevated expressway on a Sunday.
The much-anticipated expressway has filled Monirul Islam, a 32-year-old microbus driver, with excitement. He was determined to be among the first to utilize this new route, setting off from his home at the break of dawn to ensure he could operate his microbus on the elevated expressway.
BRTC to operate 79 buses on the expressway
The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) recently announced its plans to introduce 79 buses on the newly inaugurated Dhaka Elevated Expressway, as disclosed by officials on September 3rd.
The BRTC’s decision to deploy these buses on the expressway aims to reduce passenger inconveniences and enhance travel efficiency, as previously highlighted by BRTC Chairman Md Tazul Islam in statements to the media.
Sukdev Dhali, Deputy General Manager (Operations) at BRTC, clarified that these 79 buses will initially operate on the elevated expressway, and the fare structure will remain consistent with existing rates.
‘We have decided to operate 79 buses on the elevated expressway initially. The fare will be charged based on the existing rates,’ BRTC DGM (Operations) Sukdev Dhali.
Aims to increase number of buses
In response to an inquiry, it was confirmed that BRTC intends to utilize their existing fleet of double-decker buses that are already in operation on these routes.
Earlier, BRTC Chairman Md Tazul Islam had communicated to various media outlets that the government-owned transport corporation’s decision to deploy buses on the expressway was aimed at reducing passenger inconvenience and optimizing travel time. He also mentioned that BRTC has plans to increase the number of buses on the expressway if there is a growing demand for the service.
However, the transport agency later clarified that the service would not be launched immediately. Hitlar Ball, the public relations officer of BRTC, stated, “The launch date of the service will be announced later, after observing the traffic flow on the road and the performance of the ramps for some time.
Dhaka Elevated Expressway: A Monumental Infrastructure Endeavor
Initially, the construction cost of the flyover was estimated at 8,703 crores Taka. By 2013, it had risen to 8,940 crores Taka, and with the project’s prolonged duration, including additional taxes and VAT, the total project cost had surged to 16,070,713,000 Taka.
First Dhaka Elevated Expressway (FDEE) Company Limited is the principal investing entity, comprising a 51 percent stake held by Italian Thai Development Public Company Limited, 34 percent by China Shandong International Economic and Technical Cooperation Group (CSI), and 15 percent by Sinohydro Corporation Limited.
This Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-based initiative will span from South Kawla of Hazrat Shahjalal Airport and extend to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, traversing through Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Mogbazar, Malibag, Khilgaon, and Kamalapur.
The elevated expressway is poised to serve as a vital north-south thoroughfare in Dhaka, offering a direct connection from Hemayetpur, Kadamtali, Nimtali, Sirajdikhan, Madanganj, and the Dhaka-Chittagong highway to Madanpur.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially inaugurated an 11.5km elevated expressway, which also includes an additional 11km of ramps and link lines. This infrastructure became accessible to public vehicles starting at 6 a.m. on Sunday.
This substantial Tk8,940 crore project is being executed through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, led by a consortium with Italian-Thai Development Company Limited at the helm. The government is contributing 27% of the project’s cost as viability gap financing.
Md Monjur Hossain, the executive director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority and Secretary of the Bridges Division, expressed satisfaction with the first day of service. He noted that the management of the infrastructure and traffic control around the ramps was commendable.
During the morning hours, particularly between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., there was a slight build-up of vehicles near the exit ramps. However, for the rest of the day, the ramps remained clear.
