DHAKA, Feb 19, 2019 (BSS) – Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul
Quader today expressed his optimism that construction of 2nd Meghna and 2nd
Gumti bridges will end before Eid-ul-Fitr while newly constructed 2nd
Kanchpur bridge on Dhaka-Ctg highway will be opened in the first half of
March for making the Eid journey smoother.
“Under the SASEC Road Connectivity Project, the work of upgrading
Joydebpur to Elenga highways to four-lane is at the final stage. Konabari and
Chandra flyovers, two railway overpasses and four underpasses on the highways
will be opened before the Eid,” he said.
Quader, also Awami League general secretary, was addressing a view-
exchange meeting with officials, engineers, chiefs of different under-
implementation projects of Roads and Highways Department at Sarak Bhaban at
Tejgaon here.
The minister said the government has put importance on upgrading Dhaka-
Sylhet and Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highways to four-lane, besides separate
lanes for low-speed vehicles will be constructed on the highways.
He asked the concerned officials to put much emphasis on ensuring quality
in constructing roads as there are questions in people’s mind over the
quality of construction work.
Quader said few roads are getting damaged just after three to six months of
construction. So, maximum priority should be given to ensure quality in road
construction work, he added.
The minister said though the number of dilapidated roads has declined but
there are problems in travelling through the district roads. He asked the
officials concerned to renovate the dilapidated roads before monsoon and said
that if necessary, “You will have to work even at night.”
Stressing on extending the marine driveway in Cox’s Bazar, Quader said
recreational facilities at tourism hub of Cox’s Bazar should be increased for
attracting more tourists.
He said a project has been taken to illuminate either sides of the marine
driveway and renovation of two-kilometer damaged roads on the Kalatali end.
Walkways will also be constructed there.
He asked the officials concerned to begin the work to upgrade the highways
from link road to Laboni point in Cox’s Bazar to four-lane as ECNEC has
approved the budget allocation recently.
Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Ibne Alam Hasan, Bus-Rapid
Transit Project Director Sanaul Haque, South Asia Sub regional Economic
Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Project-1 Director Md Ishak and SASEC
Project-2 Director Shahriar Alam, Cross Border Project Director Md Atik
attended