Staff Correspondent
Metro rail (MRT Line-1) construction work would not cause much damage to the eight-lane Kuril-Purbachal Expressway, Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Department ABM Amin Ullah Noori has said.
“All kinds of construction work causes damage, but the metro rail project would not greatly affect the Purbachal Expressway. It might cause a small amount of damage it may cause,” he said after attending an event at a Dhaka hotel on Sunday.
He added that if the construction work occupies someone’s land or damages buildings, authorities would pay them. “We are studying the extent of the damage.”
While talking about the roads, the official said: “There would be a small amount of damage to the road, as barricades will be provided at the work site.”
“Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has installed lights on both sides of the 300 feet road. But the lights were not installed in the middle of the road. This was planned by us as the metro rail will run in the middle of the road,” he added.
When asked about the 12 underpasses in that area, he said: “We have coordinated but all of it cannot be kept intact. A small portion will be damaged.”
Experts fear that the eight-lane Kuril-Purbachal Expressway, which is on the verge of completion, may have to be dug up and rebuilt due to conflicts with the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-1.
The construction of the Purbachal Expressway has already cost Tk10,329 crore, and repairs or rebuilds would increase the project cost further.
The expressway is being constructed by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
According to project sources, the 6.20km long 8-lane expressway and 14-lane road, including a six-lane service road from Kuril to Balu River, are almost complete.
Construction of a 6.16km long six-lane expressway and six-lane service road from Balu river to Kanchan, as well as a 12-lane road, is also nearing completion.

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