Bangladesh Adopts Innovative Chinese Technologies for Sustainable Road Construction

Bangladesh Adopts Innovative Chinese Technologies for Sustainable Road Construction
Image credit: Xinhuanet 

ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges of Bangladesh, recently emphasized the need for new, low-cost, environmentally friendly, and sustainable technologies in road construction. These technologies have been adopted by Sichuan Road and Bridge (Group) Co., Ltd. (SRBG) for the Dhaka Bypass Expressway, which connects Dhaka to Chattogram.

Bangladesh's road conditions have long relied on flexible pavement with poor load-bearing capacity and stability. Raw materials like gravel are imported, leading to high costs and vulnerability to supply fluctuations. Traditional brick-making methods also cause severe land degradation. To address these challenges, Dhaka Bypass Expressway Development Company Limited (DBEDC) initiated research to find sustainable solutions.

DBEDC CEO Xiao Zhiming explained their innovative approach: "We proposed using river sand mixed with cement for road stability and unstable brick chips as auxiliary material, developing 'semi-rigid pavement' and 'reinforced retaining walls.'" This technology aimed to reduce costs and improve sustainability.

Convincing the Bangladeshi authorities to adopt these technologies required inviting experts to explain the advantages and conducting comparative tests. After much effort, the authorities approved the use of Chinese technologies and standards in February 2023.

Nuri highlighted the high construction costs due to poor soil conditions, stressing the need for new sustainable technologies. "This project will help us adopt new, eco-friendly, low-cost technology," he said, hoping for further Chinese innovation in the future.

Syed Moinul Hasan, chief engineer of Bangladesh's Roads and Highways Department, praised the semi-rigid pavement technology, noting it minimizes the use of local bricks, which are harmful to the environment. He expressed hope for applying this technology to other projects and appreciated the support from the Chinese government and corporations.

The project has attracted significant interest, with many engineers visiting for inspection and research. A technology promotion meeting was held, attended by over 100 representatives from various Bangladeshi institutions.

Bangladeshi workers are now operating machinery to layer cement-stabilized sand on the road surface, guided by Chinese engineers. Local worker Tahsin Bin Halim said, "I have learned a lot and hope to teach this technology to more colleagues in the future."

Currently, 65% of the Dhaka Bypass Expressway, with an investment of over 2.8 billion Chinese yuan (384.8 million U.S. dollars), is completed. It is expected to open by 2025, reducing the original two-hour journey to just half an hour, easing traffic, speeding up logistics, and improving travel for residents.