Mayor Mohammad Hanif flyover likely to be opened by end of next year

DHAKA, Sept 21 (BSS)- The 10-kilometre long flyover to be named after former mayor of Dhaka Mohammad Hanif is likely to be opened in the capital city by the end of next year to ease the city's traffic jam.

"Forty two percent works of the flyover have already been completed. . . we expect the project to be completed by December next year," director of the flyover project and superintendent engineer of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) M Ashiqur Rahman told BSS here today.

He said works of setting up segments on the surface of the flyover have started while works for construction of pillars are going on in full-swing with the aim of completing the projects within the stipulated time.

Rahman said the existing traffic congestion would be eased after the construction of the flyover from Shanir Akhra to Palashi via Gulisthan.

Belhasa Accom and Associates Ltd, an associate company of the Orion Group, will implement the project at a cost of Taka 2053 crore on Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis, first of its kind in Bangladesh.

The investor (concessionaire) will transfer the facility to the government after a concession period of 24 years.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction works of the project on June 22 last year when she announced to rename "Gulistan-Jatrabari Flyover" as "Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover" after the first elected mayor of Dhaka and late Awami League leader Mohammad Hanif.

Later, the design of the project was revised to integrate it with the projected traffic through the Padma Bridge, Dhaka- Chittagong expressway and Narayanganj-Gazipur elevated way.

Sources said the high-tech dual carriageway flyover includes 13 slip roads (exit and entries) and will stretch from the Dhaka- Chittagong highway to Palashi.

The minimum height of the flyover would be 5.5 metres while 7.2 metres at level crossing. They said the facility is also expected to ensure faster road connectivity with 30 districts and the Chittagong port.

In 1996, the then Awami League government initiated the Jatrabari flyover and conducted a feasibility study but the succeeding four-party alliance government could not implement the project.

Posted in: asia