Staff Reporter:
Authorities have proposed a new bypass corridor to ease traffic congestion on the Rampura-Kuril section of Pragati Sarani, which is set to undergo extensive excavation work by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA).
The proposed corridor, a joint initiative of DMTCL and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), would stretch from East West University through Aftabnagar, Swadesh Property Housing and Madani Avenue, connecting to Bashundhara Residential Area and ultimately to the 300-foot road. The alternative route is expected to be 4–5 kilometres longer but would help divert traffic during the construction period.
The move comes ahead of major infrastructure work. DMTCL is preparing to dig up the road for the construction of its underground metro line (MRT-1) from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur. Simultaneously, DWASA is installing a water distribution pipeline under its Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project, which requires cutting along the road median.
MRT-1 will feature 19 stations in total, with key stops in this section including Jamuna Future Park,
Notun Bazar, Uttar Badda, Badda, Hatirjheel and Rampura. Extensive underground construction is planned at each of these locations, according to DMTCL officials.
DNCC Superintendent Engineer Faruque Hassan Md Al Masud confirmed that the city corporation will soon hand over the road to DMTCL for the project. “WASA has already started road cutting near Rampura Bridge for pipeline installation under the median,” he said.
DWASA’s Project Director Md Wahidul Islam Murad said work began on 15 May and is scheduled to be completed within 120 days, mostly during nighttime hours. However, he noted that rain and traffic congestion have slowed progress, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has restricted road work during peak hours.
Mass Rapid Transit Line 1 project director Md Abul Kashem Bhuiyan said the proposed bypass corridor aims to mitigate the disruption expected from the construction. “We plan to begin construction in June and complete it within five years. Traffic will be diverted in phases as work progresses.”
DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Sarwar told the Daily Sun that representatives from DMTCL, DNCC and DMP recently visited the proposed bypass route and agreed to begin its development ahead of the MRT-1 construction.
“We have seen the disruption caused in front of Jamuna Future Park during the construction of Nodda station—one side of the road remained closed for nine months and the other for six. To avoid repeating that situation, we insist that the traffic diversion be implemented before digging begins,” he said.
Sarwar added that the bypass route would initially be rough in some stretches, particularly in the Swadesh Property Housing area, but DNCC plans to improve the road surface soon.
“The construction by DWASA will also require uprooting streetlights, CCTV cameras, fencing and trees from the road median, raising security concerns,” he said.
