Dhaka Elevated Expressway

The Dhaka Elevated Expressway (ঢাকা উড়াল মহাসড়ক) is an all-elevated toll road in Bangladesh. The 19.73 km road, regarded as the country's first elevated expressway, partially opened in 2023. It connects the Dhaka airport with Farmgate area in Tejgaon, with construction ongoing to connect it with the Dhaka–Chittagong Highway. Its construction aims to enhance traffic capacity within and around Dhaka city by improving connectivity between the northern part of the city and the central, southern, and south-eastern parts.

Route description
The four-lane Dhaka Elevated Expressway route begins near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at Kawla and runs alongside the railway line through Tejgaon, Maghbazar, Kamalapur, and ends at Kutubkhali near Jatrabari along the Dhaka–Chittagong Highway.

Once completed, the 19.73 km expressway will feature ramps at 31 points, making its total length, including these ramps, 46.73 km. Additionally, there will be 11 toll plazas along the route.

As per the design specifications, the speed limit on the expressway is set at 80 km/h. However, the government has temporarily enforced a speed limit of 60 km/h from Kaula to Tejgaon. The expressway is toll-operated and accessible to eight types of vehicles, including buses, minibuses, sedans, SUVs, specific trucks, and pickups. However, motorcycles, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, three-wheelers, bicycles, and pedestrians are not permitted on the expressway.

Background
In 2005, the government approved a 20-year Strategic Transport Plan (STP) for Dhaka, which included proposals for projects like the metrorail, elevated expressway, and ring road. This plan was revised in 2015, and the Dhaka Elevated Expressway was included as part of this plan.

The Dhaka Elevated Expressway project commenced in 2011. On 15 December 2013, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority signed a revised agreement with the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway Company Limited, the investment company of the project.

This project is being implemented under the public–private partnership model, with the Thailand-based Italian-Thai Development holding 51 percent of the shares, China Shandong International Economic & Technical Cooperation Group holding 34 percent, and Sinohydro Corporation Limited holding 15 percent.

The project is being executed in three phases. Phase one spans from Kawla near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Banani Railway Station, phase two stretches from Banani Railway Station to Moghbazar railway crossing, and phase three extends from Moghbazar rail crossing to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka–Chittagong highway. The total cost of the project, including main construction cost of the expressway, land acquisition, resettlement of the displaced, relocation of utility service lines, and consultation, amounts to.

Operation
On 2 September 2023, the 11.5 km Airport–Farmgate segment has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opened to traffic on 3 September.

On 18 September 2023, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation inaugurated a bus service on the Airport–Farmgate route via the expressway.

On 20 March 2024, the Karwan Bazar ramp of the expressway in front of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) has been opened for transport movement.

Entry and exit list
As of March 2024, the expressway has a total of 16 entry and exit ramps. Upon full completion, it will feature 15 entry and 16 exit ramps.

Southbound
Entry ramps for southbound vehicles are situated at Kawla near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, in front of the Army Golf Club on Airport Road, and at Kuril along Pragati Avenue.

Northbound
To get on the expressway from the south, the entrances to the expressway are the north and south lanes of Bijoy Sarani overpass and Banani railway station on Kemal Ataturk Avenue in Banani.

Southbound
When heading south, exit ramps are situated at Kemal Ataturk Avenue in Banani, Mohakhali Bus Terminal, Indira Road in Farmgate, and Karwan Bazar in front of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation.

Northbound
When travelling north from the south, the four exit ramps are located at the Mohakhali Bus Terminal, the Airport Road opposite Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Kuril Bishwa Road, and the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Tolls
The expressway will have 11 toll plazas when fully completed. Tolls for entering the expressway are collected in four categories.