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A state-of-the-art international-standard interchange is being built at Hatikhumrul in Sirajganj to make road connectivity between the capital and 22 districts in the northern and southwestern regions faster and smoother.
The Tk743-crore project is about 72 per cent complete, with workers and engineers operating in two shifts around the clock to complete the main infrastructure by December and bring the interchange into operation.
Hatikhumrul is one of Bangladesh’s major transport hubs, where a large number of vehicles travelling between Dhaka, the northern region and the southwest enter and exit different highways. The heavy traffic often causes congestion and slows movement in the area.
Officials said the new interchange would allow vehicles heading to different destinations to move in a more organised manner, reducing congestion and travel delays.
Construction of the project began in 2022, with completion initially targeted for December 2024. However, land acquisition and other complications delayed the work. The project deadline was subsequently extended to December this year.
Sand filling, boundary-wall construction, work on the SMB-D bridge and development of the service area are currently under way. Six service lanes have already been opened.
“We are working in two shifts, day and night, to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe,” said Mohammad Sarfraz Hossain, deputy project manager of SASEC-2.
He said they expected to complete the main structure of the interchange by December.
Mohammad Waliur Rahman, project director of SASEC-2, said modern technologies were being used in both construction and surveying.
“GPS technology is being used for surveying, while building information software is being used to monitor construction progress,” he said.
Officials said the interchange would improve road connectivity between Dhaka and the northern and southwestern regions while enabling more efficient use of the Jamuna Bridge.
Faster movement of vehicles could also improve road safety and reduce transportation time and costs, particularly for freight.
Saidur Rahman Bacchu, president of the Sirajganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said lower transportation time would help reduce business costs.
“If goods can be transported in less time, transportation costs for businesses will fall. This could also have an impact on the prices of goods,” he said, adding that the new interchange would play an important role in expanding trade and commerce.
Professor Mohammad Hadiuzzaman of the Civil Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said incorporating various technologies of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) could make traffic and road safety management more effective.
Chinese contractor China Railway Bridge Corporation is implementing the project.
Officials hope that completing and opening the interchange on schedule will significantly improve road connectivity between Dhaka and the northern and southwestern regions while reducing the time and cost of goods transportation and supporting commercial activity.