Dhaka Bypass Expressway opened
Staff Reporter :
The long-anticipated Dhaka Bypass Expressway has officially opened its first 18-kilometer section from Vogra to Purbachal, ushering in new hopes for easing traffic congestion and reducing transport costs across the capital region.
Led by Sichuan Road and Bridge (Group) Co., Ltd. under Shudao Group, the expressway connects National Highway N1N2 and N3N4, creating a faster and more efficient corridor for both commuters and freight vehicles.
Officials say the new toll road will help divert heavy traffic away from Dhaka’s crowded inner roads, cutting down on travel time and accident risks.
Currently, freight trucks and trailers-about 60 percent of vehicles on the Dhaka Bypass-are restricted from entering the city before 10 AM to ease gridlock.
This often delays journeys from Chattogram port to Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Rajshahi. The upgraded expressway is expected to change that by offering a 24/7 alternative route that saves both time and money.
While speaking as the chief guest on Sunday, Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, said, “Once fully completed, the Dhaka Bypass Expressway will not only reduce travel time and transport costs but also strengthen industrial growth, create jobs, and improve overall road safety.
He further said, “The road construction is much higher here compared to other countries. It has to be reduced. We have to build such by-pass to avoid traffic jam in Dhaka.”
He also directed to reduce the dependence on foreigners to carry out construction works in the country.
The Adviser, however, became angry when he moves for opening the name plate of the project as his own name was inscribed there.
“Has the road been constructed by the money of my father? So why my name will be there,” he said and directed to immediately change the name plate.
Director of Dhaka Bypass Expressway Company (DBEDC) and CEO Xiao Zhiming said, “The opening and operation of the first section of the Dhaka Bypass Expressway is not only an important achievement in the construction of Expressway PPP (Public-Private Partnership) projects in Bangladesh, but also another vivid practice of China and Bangladesh jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative.”
“It will further benefit people’s lives, improve the connectivity efficiency between Dhaka and Chattogram, and further stimulate regional economic vitality,” he added.
“The opening of the first section is a new starting point for us to fulfill our commitments. We will take “operation as the foundation and people’s livelihood as the orientation”, optimize our services, to build a “safe, efficient, smart and green” Expressway, ” he said.
“We will further accelerate the construction of the remaining project, strictly focus on project quality and safety, and realize the full-line connection at an early date,” he concluded.
An average of 10,000 vehicles use the bypass daily, and traffic is projected to rise sharply with the expressway’s expansion.
The road will soon be linked with the under-construction Kanchan Interchange and Purbachal Expressway, providing a smooth alternative to vehicles from Mirpur, Uttara, and Mohakhali heading towards Chattogram and Sylhet.
This connection is expected to ease inter-district travel and further reduce pressure on Dhaka’s entry points.
Experts note that the expressway will not only improve daily commutes but also fuel economic integration and support Bangladesh’s growing regional trade.
The project, developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), is part of a broader vision to establish a high-speed ring road around Dhaka.
For millions of residents and businesses, today’s opening signals a future of faster journeys, lower transport expenses, and fewer traffic bottlenecks in the capital.