The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Bangladesh Public–Private Partnership Authority have signed a transaction advisory services agreement to prepare and develop the Rampura-Amulia-Demra PPP road project in Bangladesh.

The road project aims to to boost connectivity and cut traffic congestion in central Dhaka. It will provide improved connectivity between the highways from Chittagong and Sylhet, and central Dhaka. The project also complements ADB’s existing support to Bangladesh’s Roads and Highways Department for inter-city road connectivity under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Project.

The PPP project will develop a four-lane 13.5-km access controlled road. As part of its advisory mandate, ADB will carry out a feasibility study for the US$200 million project, develop a bankable PPP structure, and organize a competitive tender process to select a suitable private sector partner.

A transparent competitive tender process is expected to be launched for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the road. It will help in developing a template for PPP roads in Bangladesh.

Ryuichi Kaga, Head of ADB’s Office of Public–Private Partnership (OPPP), stated:

“We are highly encouraged by the progress made by the Government of Bangladesh and its PPP Authority and we are excited to expand our support through this transaction advisory services agreement which will help structure viable and bankable PPP projects.”

ADB has been a long serving supporter of Bangladesh’s PPP program, including providing technical assistance that helped pave the way for the passage of the country’s PPP law in September 2015, and in the preparation of PPP projects.