A major road development project meant to strengthen connectivity between Dhaka and Hili land port in Dinajpur is facing further delays, with the government proposing a sharp rise in costs and an extension of the implementation timeline by nearly three years beyond the original deadline.
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has sought approval for the first revision of the project titled “Upgradation of Hili (Land Port)–Dugdugi–Ghoraghat National Highway (N-521) to proper standards, reconstruction of existing narrow and dilapidated culverts to three important roads and ocnstrction of rigid pavement anddrainage in market areas(1st Revised)”, increasing the estimated cost from Tk 463.71 crore to Tk 587.88 crore and extending the completion date to June 2027.
Originally scheduled for completion by December 2024, the project has already been granted a no-cost extension until December 2025.
The latest proposal marks a significant escalation in both time and expenditure for a project considered vital for trade and regional development in northern Bangladesh.
A strategic corridor under strain
The highway under upgrade connects Hili land port—Bangladesh’s second-largest after Benapole—with the regional highway Gobindaganj–Ghoraghat–Birampur–Phulbari–Dinajpur (R-585).
Once upgraded to national highway standards, it is expected to ease the movement of goods between the port and the capital, cutting travel time and transport costs.
Hili land port, located in Dinajpur’s Hili upazila along the Bangladesh–India border, serves as a key gateway for cross-border trade with West Bengal’s Balurghat.
Essential commodities such as rice, wheat, maize, sugar, stone, fertilisers and industrial raw materials pass through the port daily, generating substantial revenue and employment.
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Yet poor road condition, narrow pavements and inadequate drainage have long hampered smooth transportation along the corridor, particularly during monsoon seasons when waterlogging and damage to culverts disrupt traffic.
Why the revision?
According to official documents, the revised cost reflects increased expenses in land acquisition, compensation for affected infrastructure, rigid pavement construction and the reconstruction or widening of 57 reinforced cement concrete (RCC) culverts.
The proposal also cites the need for additional time to complete these works as per updated design and safety standards.
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The project scope includes widening pavements, constructing rigid pavements in market areas, building one PC girder bridge, installing RCC U-drains, rehabilitating cross-drains, road marking and shifting utilities—tasks that officials say proved more complex and costly than initially estimated.
A senior Planning Commission official said the revision was “unavoidable” given market price escalation and field-level constraints.
He the upgraded highway would ensure uninterrupted connectivity between Dhaka and Hili once completed.
Development promises, delayed gains
The project spans eight upazilas of Dinajpur district in Rangpur division, an area heavily dependent on agriculture and cross-border trade.
Improved connectivity is expected to stimulate local markets, reduce vehicle operating costs and support faster movement of goods to and from the land port.
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The project has been included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for fiscal year 2025–26, with an allocation of Tk 125 crore.
A port too important to ignore
Despite constraints such as limited space, heavy traffic pressure and seasonal congestion, Hili land port remains crucial for supply chains in northern Bangladesh.
Over the years, the government has invested in customs facilities, warehouses and automation to improve efficiency at the port.
Officials said if completed on schedule this time, the upgraded highway could unlock Hili’s full potential—boosting trade volumes, reducing congestion and strengthening economic ties with India.