Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the operations of Agargaon-Motijheel section of metro rail will open by November.
Besides, the elevated expressway up to Tejgaon will open to traffic by this year, he said.
The minister also said 100 more bridges will be inaugurated in the country in June and 100 electric buses will be added into the fleet of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) by November - 80 buses in Dhaka city and 20 others in Chattogram city.
Mr Quader disclosed the information after signing a contract to appoint a supervision consultant for the Kewatkhali Bridge over Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh city, at the ministry.
Under the Tk 600-million contract, India-led joint venture (JV) company comprising South Korea and Bangladesh will work as the consultant to review the design prepared by design consultant and supervise the 320-metre steel-arch bridge construction work.
Project Director Nur E Alam and Prodyot Biswas signed the contract, respectively, on behalf of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and JV consultant firms.
The consultant firms are: LEA Associates South Asia Pvt Ltd of India, Yongma Engineering Company Ltd of South Korea, and Desh Upodesh Limited (sub consultant) and Kranti Associates Ltd of Bangladesh (sub consultant).
The RHD has taken the Tk 10 billion Kewatkhali bridge construction project to establish a direct link between Dhaka and different districts in the region as well as a land port.
In addition, the bridge will play a significant role in the road communication between old Mymensingh town and divisional town as well as establishing connectivity with economic zones.
Under the project, three road overpasses of 670.8 metre, two railway overpasses of 240 metre, an eight-lane highway along with a 6.2 km lane for slow-moving vehicles, toll plaza and resting place will also be built.