Bangladesh has invited bids to build the country’s first elevated expressway valued at nearly $2.5bn in the capital city of Dhaka.

The 32.5km road will connect the northern part of the city to business hubs in the central, south and southeast.

The expressway is expected to reduce congestion and handle the city’s growing traffic, which is only expected to rise as the country’s population of 13 million is slated to double over the next 20 years.

The project could be carried out under a public-private partnership.