Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader told the parliament on Sunday that the work on upgradation of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway into a four-lane one would be completed by June this year, report agencies.
The upgraded Dhaka-Mymensingh highway would be opened to traffic by June as promised by the Prime Minister (PM), he said while replying to a supplementary question.
About the progress of the project, Mr Quader said so far 58.48 per cent works had been done under the Package-3 despite facing some problems.
He said a decision had been taken to give the task to the Army if the contractor concerned fails to carry out the work up to the mark within this month.
Replying to a starred question from Tahjib Alam Siddiqui (Jhenidah-2), the minister said the actual overall progress on the project is 64.58 per cent.
Answering to another supplementary question, Quader said the much-hyped Padma Multipurpose Bridge would be opened to traffic by 2018 and the necessary linkage and connectivity with small bridges with the south-western region would also be ensured.
The government has a plan to construct 80km elevated expressway to reduce traffic jam in the capital city.
Mr Quader said this while replying to a question from treasury bench member Noor Jahan Begum in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS).
He said the government would construct the elevated expressway from Hemayetpur-Kadamtoli Intersection-Nimtoli-Sirajdikhan-Madanganj to Madanpur on Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
"We have prepared Preliminary Development Project Proforma (PDPP) for the project with foreign aid. The PDPP is awaiting approval in Planning Commission," the minister said.
The much-talked-about Metro Rail will start its journey by 2019, five years ahead of the schedule, the minister expressed his hope in the JS.
Replying to a supplementary question from a treasury bench member Noor Jahan Begum, he said Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would construct the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT).
The cost of the MRT has been estimated at Tk 220 billion, of which JICA would provide Tk 165 billion for construction of the Metro Rail, Quader said, adding, "The Japanese development agency would also complete the MRT by 2019 shortening its earlier timeframe, which was 2024."
Replying to another question from treasury bench member M Abdul Latif in the House, the minister said the government has constructed 1,388 bridges and culverts as part of the country's infrastructure development from 2009 to 2014.
He said the government constructed 249 small, large and medium bridges and 1,139 different types of culverts after returning to power in 2009.
