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The Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) was opened to city traffic at 6:00am today, with access available from six different directions. Enthusiasm was palpable as people eagerly awaited their first ride on the expressway.
Commuters seized the opportunity to use the expressway as it now allows them to traverse 11.5 kilometres in just 10 minutes.
At the Tejgaon toll plaza, 25 vehicles crossed within the first 20 minutes of its opening. Traffic at Kawla, near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), began to pick up, with 30 to 40 vehicles passing through every minute en route to the toll booth.
Shandhi, an airport passenger, successfully crossed the plaza at 7:20am, as her flight to India is scheduled to take off at 10am. Shandhi and her husband expressed their excitement about the first-day experience, noting that it provided them with a sense of liberation from the chaotic city traffic.
Driver Md Sobur Khan pointed out that since the toll for microbuses is the same as for cars, many office vehicles will likely opt for the Expressway, as it offers significant fuel cost savings.
MIS Shahadat Hossain informed The FE that it might be possible to collect comprehensive data on DEE users at the end of a shift. A total of three shifts will be responsible for the operation and management of the country's first elevated expressway under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The partial opening of the DEE to commuters began following its inauguration by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday at the Kawla entry point. The expressway features entrance ramps at Kawla, Kuril, Banani, and Tejgaon, allowing travelers to head towards Farmgate. Similarly, exit ramps are available at Kawla, Banani, Mohakhali, and Farmgate.