Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said development projects must be implemented with efficiency and proper planning, warning that poor execution can turn them into a burden on the economy.
He made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a stakeholders’ consultation workshop on the proposed Dhaka East-West Elevated Expressway (DEWEE) PPP project. The event was held at Ballroom-2 of Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the capital on Tuesday.
The minister said the proposed Dhaka East-West Elevated Expressway is a highly important project that could transform the country’s transport system. However, he cautioned that improper implementation would create financial pressure on the economy.
He said the feasibility study of the project has already been completed. The 38.98-kilometre expressway is expected to improve regional connectivity by linking Chattogram, Sylhet, Barishal and Khulna divisions with the northern region without passing through Dhaka city.
The minister added that the expressway would ease traffic congestion in the capital and increase vehicle speed. He said vehicles currently move at 20–30 km per hour in Dhaka, while the new expressway would allow speeds of 90–100 km per hour, reducing pressure on the city’s road network.
Shaikh Rabiul Alam also expressed dissatisfaction over delays and inefficiencies in large infrastructure projects. Referring to the Dhaka-Sylhet highway project, he said land acquisition is still incomplete even after four years, increasing project costs by 30 to 35 percent.
He said such delays and mismanagement prevent people from receiving the intended benefits of development projects. He stressed the need to maintain quality, time and cost discipline to ensure expected returns.
“Otherwise, mega projects become a burden on the national economy instead of delivering benefits,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to adopt a more cautious and accountable approach, with proper planning and execution rather than overly ambitious projects beyond capacity.
State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Razib Ahsan attended the event as special guest, while Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf chaired the session.
Earlier, Chief Engineer of the DEWEE project Quazi Md Ferdous delivered the welcome speech and presented a visual overview of the project. The project team leader also briefed various aspects of the initiative.
The expressway will run from Hemayetpur in Savar to Langalbadh in Narayanganj, passing through Savar, Keraniganj, Fatullah, Siddhirganj and Bandar upazila.
The PPP project is estimated to cost Tk26,000 crore, excluding contingencies and financing costs. It will be implemented jointly by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, with completion targeted by 2030.
