Rangpur-Elenga highway development to six lanes has not been completed in eight years. It takes six to eight hours to travel from Rangpur to Jamuna Bridge. The work has stopped due to some legal complications including land acquisition in Shathibari of Rangpur, Palashbari of Gaibandha, Gobindganj. But those concerned say that the work is progressing.
According to the relevant sources, the Rangpur-Hatikumrul-Elenga six-lane highway project is 190 km long. Its work started in September 2016. The first phase of work was supposed to be completed in August 2021. At that time the cost of the original project was estimated at Tk 11 thousand 899 crore. After this, Tk 4 thousand 763 crore increased to Tk 16 thousand 662 crore. The total cost of the last project was Tk 18 thousand 679 crore. With some changes, the total cost of the new project will be Tk 19 thousand 56 crore. The development of this highway is scheduled to be completed by December 2026 after the latest extension. Out of 190 km roads, 150 km road work has been completed. Due to some works including land acquisition, the stakeholders are not able to say how much time it will take to complete the 40 km four lane.
It is known that under the project there are 26 bridges with a length of 1,461 meters, a railway overpass of 411 meters and 11 steel footover bridges. The decision to construct flyovers in Sirajganj EPZ and Gobindganj and Palashbari areas was taken later. At present, the construction of flyover is going on in Gobindganj and Palashbari. The Rangpur section of the road has 70 km of Baradargah, Routpara, Shukanchowki, Laldighi, Jamtala, Sonakandar, Bus Stand, Angrar Bridge, Uzirpur, Majidpur, Khedmatpur, Tularam Majidpur, Madarhat and Thaperhat, Mithapukure Shathibari, Damdma area. The construction project director of the road in Rangpur region, Executive Engineer (RHD) Firoz Akhter said, there are some complications including land acquisition in Shathibari, Palashbari. As a result, work has stopped at those places. The complications of Gobindganj have been resolved. There is work in progress.
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