The government has taken a move to complete feasibility studies and detailed designs of the existing national highways for further development and making suitable for serving as regional corridor.
Of the total 2,352-kilometre (km) national and regional roads of the country, officials said, the feasibility study and detailed design of 1,752-km has already been completed, but of 600-km remains to be done.
"We have already started the process to complete the study and design of the 600-km to conclude the first stage," said an official, adding that the government would then go for the next stage of seeking investment with the technical support from Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is conducting the study and design to develop the roads and highways to be connected with the Asian Highway, in accordance with Bangladesh's commitment to different blocks and groups for improving connectivity with the neighbours.
Officials said the RHD has already started construction work of a corridor covering 500-km, including 70-km Joydevpur-Tangail- Elenga road which is now under construction with the financial support of ADB and other development partners.
Two more projects for construction of 190.4-km road from Elenga to Rangpur and Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil are also under process.
ADB has been providing support to first two projects under SASEC-1 and SASEC-2 (South Asia Sub Regional Economic Cooperation). The Dhaka-Sylhet highway is expected to get Chinese support.
Mohammad Nazmul Haque, deputy project director of sub-regional transportation preparatory facility project, said the first level studies have almost covered the existing national highways. The new phase of study is to cover the missing links.
According to the RHD, two routes are used to reach Burimari border from Rangpur. The study of the first route through Lalmonirhat was completed and another 60-km from Rangpur to Burimari through Borokhata will now be studied.
Some 58-km road from Nabinagar to Paturia will be studied under the second phase to connect with the road connecting the Mongla Port.
Besides, studies for 10-km road from Khepupara to Payra Port, 46-km road from Sylhet to Sheola Sutakandi, 10-km of Chittagong Port access road, 172-km from Rangpur to Banglabanda, 135-km from Benapole to Jessore through Narail-Khulna and Bhanga will be conducted.
Mr Nazmul said all these national and regional highways will be developed into four-lane ones with service roads on both sides.
Besides, he said, road safety and access control has been considered in the detailed design so that accidents can be mitigated and, control of unwanted and slow-moving vehicles can be controlled.
He pointed out that more regional highways or roads in the district headquarters would seem important for the regional corridor. Studies for these roads would be conducted later.
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