Northbound four-lane project gains pace
The long-awaited Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur four-lane highway project, considered vital for improving road connectivity in the northern districts of Bangladesh, has made visible progress in recent months. Officials involved with the project say around 92 per cent of the work has now been completed.
Authorities have expressed optimism that the partially completed four-lane highway will ease travel for passengers returning home during the upcoming Eid holidays.
Although the project has experienced delays in previous years, recent construction activity has accelerated, raising hopes that traffic congestion on this important corridor will gradually decline.
According to project officials, progress slowed for several years but gained momentum after the current BNP-led government assumed office.
The four-lane authority said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh RabiulAlam has been regularly monitoring the project’s implementation.
Dr. Mohammad Waliur Rahman, Project Director of the SASEC-2 project, told The New Nation that the work had faced significant delays during earlier phases.
“The project timeline had to be extended several times. However, about 92 per cent of the work has now been completed, and we aim to finish the remaining portion by December this year,” he said.
He noted that several challenges had affected the implementation of the project. Among them were the Covid-19 pandemic, complexities surrounding land acquisition for the highway, and a temporary slowdown in work following political unrest in July 2024.
Under the supervision of Syed MoinulHasan, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department, construction has since regained momentum.
Stakeholders believe that once completed, the project will significantly improve road communication in the northern region.
The four-lane highway is expected to reduce travel time and lower the risk of accidents. It may also help ease the heavy traffic congestion that typically occurs during major Muslim festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, when large numbers of people travel from Dhaka to northern districts.
A key feature of the project is the construction of a major interchange at Hatikumrul in Sirajganj district, which is expected to become the country’s largest road interchange.
Visible progress has already been made at the site. Once operational, the interchange is expected to improve connectivity between several highways in the region, potentially saving both time and travel costs for motorists.
The Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur four-lane project forms part of the South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC-II) programme.
Construction began in September 2016 under the supervision of the Roads and Highways Department. Since then, the project’s budget and timeline have been revised several times, with the latest completion target set for December 2026.
In addition to expanding the main highway, the project includes the construction of flyovers, bridges, underpasses, service lanes, passenger shelters, roadside tree plantations and lighting facilities.
The overall cost of the four-lane project, along with two additional slow-moving vehicle lanes, has been estimated at Tk 19,053 crore. The construction of the Hatikumrul interchange alone is expected to cost around Tk 738 crore.
Several domestic and international contractors are involved in different sections of the project, including Abdul Monayem Ltd., Monico Ltd., KontaktPragati Consortium Ltd., and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Ltd.
Recent visits to sections of the highway indicate that construction work, particularly on service lanes between Hatikumrul and Chandaikona, is progressing at a steady pace. Transport operators have expressed cautious optimism that the improvements will help reduce travel difficulties during the upcoming Eid holidays.
Passengers and drivers have also stressed the importance of enhanced traffic management along the highway. Some transport workers said increased monitoring by police and administrative authorities at key points could help ensure safer journeys during the festive travel period.
Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station, said the development of the four-lane road and the interchange is expected to bring significant improvements to the region’s transport system.
Officials from the Sirajganj traffic division added that police personnel are already working to manage vehicle movement along the busy corridor stretching from the western end of the Jamuna Bridge to Chandaikona. Additional members of the Highway Police and district police are expected to be deployed ahead of Eid to help ensure safer travel for passengers.
