A consortium has been awarded the contract to construct the Rampura Amulia Demra Expressway in Bangladesh. Two Chinese firms, China Communications Construction Company (CCCCL) and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), will carry out the project.

The project is being handled under the PPP model, with Chinese funding playing a key role. The link will feature two lanes in either direction and will measure 13.5km, with an estimated cost of around US$243 million. The route will be tolled and around 9.4km of the new expressway will be elevated.

The new elevated expressway project was approved by Bangladesh’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The Rampura Amulia Demra Expressway runs between Chittagong Road (National Highway N1) and Hatirjheel near Rampura Bridge Road. The project has been based on a feasibility study carried out by WSP/MMM Group. The route is expected to carry up to 30,000 vehicles/day by 2025 and 55,000 vehicles/day by 2035.

The decision to build an improved link connecting Rampura with Demra was taken by the Bangladesh Government in 2015, but the project was delayed due to issues with the tender process.