The Bangladeshi Government has approved BDT32.17bn ($417m) for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project, linking the Airport Road to the Dhaka-Chittagong highway to ease congestion in the country’s capital.

The 26km-long four-lane elevated expressway will be built from Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and will run through Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Satrasta, Moghbazar, Kamlapur, Khilgaon and Golapbagh.

The main expressway will span over 21km with two links stretching 5km.

One of the links will stretch from Manik Mia Avenue to the Satrasta intersection, while the other will go from Plassey intersection to Moghbazar.

Italian-Thai Development Public Company will carry out the construction on the expressway project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.