Bangladesh's Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has recently approved the development of the Dhaka Bypass project under the PPP model.

The upgrading consist of approximately 50 Kilometers long connecting Joydevpur-Tangail National Highway (N-4) in the north, Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway (N-1), Dhaka-Sylhet National Highway (N-2), Dhaka-Mymensingh National Highway (N-3) alongside some regional highways and district roads.

The project will provide road with a transport network to the industrial belt north of Dhaka. The project is expected to play an important role in addressing the acute traffic congestion in the capital.

The apporval involved a US$30 million government funding. The project is expected to be implemented by June 2020.

The Dhaka Bypass is a national highway and is one of the 13 PPP projects to be implemented under the Road Transport and Highways Division.

AHM Mustafa Kamal, the Planning Minister of Bangladesh, commented:

"Through the proposed bypass, passenger and goods-laden heavy buses and trucks will be able to travel from northern and western parts of the country to eastern and southern part without entering Dhaka city. So, this bypass is very important for addressing the traffic congestion of Dhaka city and it will play an important role in boosting the national economy".