People of the city including its surrounding areas got a four-lane airport road with a median for the first time as its elevation and construction work were completed successfully in June 2024.
The Department of Roads and Highway has implemented the project of elevating the pavement from Rajshahi to Naohata Bridge via Shahmakhdum Airport to four lanes with an estimated cost of around Tk 326.87 crore.
Abdul Hakim, executive engineer of the department, said they had elevated the 9.65-kilometre part of the 66.42-kilometre Rajshahi-Naogaon highway to four lanes.
In addition to the four-lane elevation, security of the road was ensured through construction of 65-meter RCC box culverts, road median sign signals, guidepost and road marking.
He said the road was very much important as many ministers, members of parliament, foreigners and other dignitaries used it for the purpose of their movement to and from the airport.
The road is also used as the main connecting means between the districts of Rajshahi and Naogaon side by side with transportation of agricultural and industrial products and goods every day.
In order to create a traffic-congestion free atmosphere on the vital road, the four-lane initiative had been taken.
RCC drain cum footpath has been constructed with cover slabs on both sides of 5-kilometre part for water sewerage as it is located in the densely populated urban areas.
In addition to widening nine culverts, need-based physical infrastructures were constructed on both sides of another 4.65-kilometre part to make various types of utility services, including gas, electricity, telephone, water and internet, safe and secured.
For the greater interest of unhindered and safe traffic movement, including the commercial heavy ones, seven intersections were developed with arrangement of adequate sign signals through the construction of round-about traffic islands.
After successful completion of the project, the road has now widened to 25.4-metre from the previous 5.5 metres that helps expedite the process of socio-economic development and poverty eradication in the region, according to Engineer Hakim.
