Delay in Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road expansion causes severe traffic disruptions

The final phase of the six-lane expansion work of the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road has been stalled for a long time.

The road construction from Signboard to Chandmari was completed almost a year ago. However, nearly one kilometre of the road from Chandmari to Chashara remains unfinished, causing severe inconvenience to commuters.

This road has become one of the main causes of persistent traffic jams in Narayanganj city. Vehicles can travel smoothly between Signboard and Chandmari without much hindrance, but they have to wait a long time at the entrance.

Similarly, vehicles travelling from Chashara to Signboard also have to wait for extended periods in the beginning.

Moreover, large potholes across the road lead to frequent accidents.

According to sources from the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the road from Chashara to Signboard is 8.15 kilometres long. It connects Narayanganj city to the Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet highways.

To upgrade this important road to the proper standard, the Road Transport and Highways Division drafted a Detailed Project Proposal (DPP) and sent it to the Planning Commission. After receiving the project proposal, the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting was held on 8 July 2019.

Based on the recommendations made in that meeting, the DPP was revised. The proposal was then presented to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), where it was approved. On 9 December 2020, the purchase proposal for the six-lane upgrade project was approved.

The approved project to upgrade the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road (R-111) to six lanes is estimated to cost Tk364.25 crore.

On 9 February 2021, a contract was signed between the Roads and Highways Department and the contracting company for the project, which was supposed to be completed by June 2022.

However, the deadline was extended until June 2023, and the project cost was increased to Tk489 crore.

Despite the extended time, the construction work has not been completed, and the deadline was further extended by another year until June 2024. However, the work remains unfinished, and there is no certainty on when it will be completed.

After August 5, 2024, following the ouster of the Awami League government, the work came to a complete halt. There is no information on when it will resume.

Shahana Ferdous, executive engineer of the Narayanganj Roads and Highways Department, said, "The delay in work is due to some structures in the Chandmari area that could not be removed and the Narayanganj Rifles Club at the city entrance. However, this issue has now been resolved, and work will begin soon. The entire project will be completed before June 2025."