Staff Correspondent NARAYANGANJ: The main elevated section of the under-construction 6-lane Panchabati-Muktarpur Expressway is expected to open for vehicular movement by September this year. Project officials are optimistic that the entire mega-project, being built at a cost of BDT 3,318.79 crore, will be fully completed by December.
Once operational, the expressway will significantly ease and speed up communication between Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Munshiganj, while playing a vital role in eliminating long-standing traffic congestion in the region.
Project Redesign and Budget Adjustments The project initially targeted a completion deadline of June 30, 2025, with an estimated budget of BDT 2,659 crore. Due to various implementation complexities, the deadline was extended, and the total cost was revised upward to BDT 3,318.79 crore. Despite missing earlier schedules, officials confirm that the final completion is now securely on track for this December.
A Major Boost for Transit and Trade The expressway is designed to allow vehicles coming from Chittagong and Sylhet divisions to travel directly toward the southern districts of Bangladesh without entering Dhaka’s central city limits. This bypass will greatly reduce travel times and commercial transport costs.
The project area heavily impacts the local economy. The corridor is home to the BSCIC Industrial Estate alongside approximately 1,000 factories employing around 400,000 workers. Furthermore, the Muktarpur area houses multiple cement factories and cold storages. The new expressway is expected to streamline freight logistics for these heavy industries.
Technical Features and Road Expansion The infrastructure project includes a comprehensive upgrade of both elevated and ground-level roads:
Elevated Structure: A 9.6 km long elevated section including the main flyover and 6 connecting ramps.
Ground Road Upgrades: 7 km of the existing ground-level road is being expanded to 2 lanes.
Four-Lane Expansion: A 3.75 km stretch from the 3rd Shitalakshya Bridge to the Muktarpur Bridge is being upgraded to 4 lanes.
Junction Connectivity: 6-lane link roads stretching 310 meters toward Fatullah and Chashara are being built to ease pressure at the Panchabati intersection.
Toll and Weight Management System A major traffic roundabout is being constructed at the junction of the 3rd Shitalakshya Bridge in Char Syedpur. The site will feature a total of four toll plazas (divided between ground level and elevated structures) alongside six weigh stations to control overloaded trucks. While the ground-level road will remain open and free for regular traffic, commuters using the elevated expressway will be subject to a toll.
Current Progress and Official Statements Commenting on the commercial impact, Morshed Sarwar Sohel, General Secretary of the Narayanganj BSCIC Owners Association and Vice President of BKMEA, noted that while infrastructure development always benefits the economy, Munshiganj and Narayanganj already share established road connections. He suggested the project may not radically alter existing business dynamics overnight.
However, engineering teams report rapid progress on the ground. Engineer Johurul Huq, the Deputy Team Leader of the project, stated, “Around 94% of the project work has already been completed. The structural work for the elevated section is done, and bitumen carpeting is currently underway. We expect this to finish within a month, followed by another two months to wrap up final connection joints.”
“We are fully confident that the elevated section will be opened to the public by September, and all remaining components of the project will be 100% finished by December,” he added.
