Sheikh Hasina government’s project list in parliament: Minister acknowledges development in communication sector

❐ Staff Reporter

Minister for Railways, Road Transport and Bridges Sheikh Rabiul Alam expressed optimism in the National Parliament about the benefits of various projects in the communication sector, including roads, bridges, and railways, undertaken by the Awami League government.

The minister informed about the ongoing projects in a written reply to a question from Dhaka-18 MP SM Jahangir Hossain in the National Parliament session today, Thursday, April 9.

The answer was raised at the question-and-answer table presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.

The minister said that the details of the government’s multi-faceted development project to ease traffic congestion in the capital’s Dhaka-18 constituency have been informed in the National Parliament. The process of introducing 340 new CNG-powered AC buses along with the BRT project to reduce the long-standing suffering in this area is in the final stage.

In a written reply, it was informed that the road from Banani Overpass to the airport is under the jurisdiction of the Roads Department. To resolve traffic congestion, the roads in the Balaka Bhaban, Third Terminal and Kawla areas adjacent to the airport have already been widened. In addition, necessary road dividers have been installed to maintain traffic discipline.

He said that currently, work on three major projects to alleviate traffic congestion in this area is progressing rapidly. The projects are:

Metrorail (MRT) Line-1: Construction work on MRT Line-1 from the airport to Kuril is underway as part of the 6 metrorail projects undertaken for Dhaka and surrounding areas by 2030. Once this line is operational, it will bring a radical change to the transportation system in Uttara.

BRT Project: The 20.5-kilometer long Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project from the airport to Gazipur is in its final stages. Under this, the existing road is being upgraded to 8 lanes.

Besides, a total of eight flyovers and 4.5 km of flyovers, including the airport, Jasimuddin and Gazipur U-turns, have been completed. The minister said that if the project is fully operational, it will be possible to reach from one end to the other in just 35-40 minutes.

Procurement of 340 AC buses: To modernize the transportation system, an initiative has been taken through BRTC to procure 340 single-decker CNG AC buses. If this project is implemented, improved bus services will be launched on Uttara, Airport and Khilkhet routes, which will play a role in reducing dependence on private vehicles and reducing traffic congestion.

According to information provided to Parliament, if these projects are fully implemented, the transportation system for the people of Dhaka-18 constituency will be modern, affordable, and completely free of traffic jams.