A section of the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 30, 2023. /Xinhua
The First Dhaka Elevated Expressway, one of Bangladesh's major flagship infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, partly opened to traffic on Sunday, setting a milestone in the country's history in transportation.
The expressway, totaling 19.37 kilometers in length, was jointly invested and built by China's Shandong Hi-Speed Group Company Ltd (SDHS), Power Construction Corporation of China and a Thai company.
A section of the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 30, 2023. /Xinhua
Speaking at the opening of the expressway on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called it "a new milestone in Bangladesh's city mass transport system."
Hasina said she has given the expressway as a gift to residents of Dhaka and the people across the country, adding that it would play a great role in developing communication between the capital and the rest of the country.
She extended her heartfelt appreciations to all involved in building the expressway.
A section of the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 30, 2023. /Xinhua
Thanking the Bangladeshi government for supporting the project, Li Guangjin, director of SDHS Group, said the company will spare no effort to speed up the construction and strive for the early opening of the full line to contribute to the development of Bangladesh and the improvement of people's livelihood.
(With input from Xinhua)