Friday, March 30, 2007

Mohakhali flyover and Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover


Mohakhali flyover, construction in 2001-02

Inauguration of flyover in Nov 2004


Bird's eye view (pic credit tmac)




From Banani end


Mohakhali-Tejgaon Industrial road on left

View of Mohakhali buildings from flyover



Container train pass underneath the flyover towards Kamalapur Railway station

Model of Gulistan-Jatrabari: 3rd flyover

Construction of 3rd flyover at Gulistan point, in Dec 2006


Flyovers in Dhaka:
According to World Bank, the population of Dhaka would rise between 22 - 25 million by 2020. Dhaka’s present 13 million population is growing at a fast rate. Dhaka is one of the most traffic congested cities in the world with unusual low per capita income of people (about $380) most of whom can’t afford cars. As Bangladesh prospers, congestion will get even worse.

Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of traffic fatality in the world and World Bank considers traffic safety a major public health problem here. Urbanization and more traffic will bring about more traffic accidents. The streets are hostile to pedestrians, the danger and inconvenience of walking or cycling in turn leads people to use rickshaws, CNGs or other motor vehicles which make the traffic more worse,

Mohakhali Flyover: Aiming to ease traffic congestion in the capital, provide better transport services and tackle urbanization problems, the first flyover (a 17.9-metre wide and 1.12-km long bridge) was undertaken at Mohakhali railway crossing in 1996 at Tk. 113 crore, financed jointly by the government and the World Bank. It took 5 years to finalise the process and the contract was awarded to a Chinese Company in Nov 2001. The flyover was completed and opened to traffic in Nov 2004.

Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover:
The country’s third flyover (after Mohakhali and Khilgaon flyovers) will be constructed in three and half years, with about Taka 700 crore private investment under BOOT (build-own-operate-transfer) system. The foundation stone for construction of Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover, the first such project to be built through private investment without involving any government fund or foreign loan support, was laid in June 2006. Dubai-based Belhasa-Accom and Associates Ltd will construct the flyover under the supervision of the DCC.

The 4-lane, 8-km long flyover, which is now under construction, is the third flyover in the country and also will be the longest one. The Dhaka-Chittagong highway, Dhaka-Maowa highway, Demra road, Syedabad Bus Terminal, Dayaganj, Hatkhola and Gulistan roads will be connected through this planned flyover. This flyover would resolve unbearable traffic jams at Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Motijheel, Gulistan, Dayaganj and Wari areas. It will also ensure smooth communication with Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet divisions.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Khilgaon flyover, Dhaka


In 2002 - flyover under construction

Completed

Birds' eye view of the Khilgaon flyover

Photo credit: tmac








A train on the move

Labyrinth - known as 'Jilapir pyanch' (the convolution of a Jilapi)

Khilgaon, near 'Bishwa' road

Khilgaon Flyover:
To ease the nagging traffic congestion in the city center, the country's second and biggest fly-over was constructed at the busy road-rail intersection near Khilgaon, connecting Rajarbagh in the south, Malibagh in the west and Sayedabad in the east. According to the LGED, people of the eastern region of Dhaka had to lose three and a half hours everyday, as the rail crossing would close around 72 times a day to allow passage of trains. Those people are now able to move without much delay.

Construction of this 1.9-Km long and 14-metre wide flyover, having 543 piles, began in 2001 at a cost of Tk 81.75 crore, including expenses for land acquisition and compensation to the affected people. The flyover has a 780-metre main bridge and three ramps. The length of the flyover towards Sayedabad is 303 metres, Malibagh 190 metres and Rajarbagh 285 metres. The ramp towards Sayedabad is 220 metres, Malibagh 202 metres and Rajarbagh 222 metres. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) built and opened to traffic in March 2005.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Banani, Dhaka


Airport road near Chairman-bari road, Banani





Airport road-Banani, Kamal Ataturk Avenue on right

Kakoli Bus stand south of Kamal Ataturk Ave. Banani

Mosque on the private plot of once Governor E.Pakistan late Monem Khan - near USIS Banani

Govt. staff quarters, Airport road, Banani


Kamal Ataturk Ave. Banani

ABC Tower, Kamal Ataturk Ave. Banani

UAE-Bangladesh Friendship Market, Banani

North west view, Banani

Road 17, Banani - noted for many private universities



Busy universities with no parking areas



Mosque, south of Banani super market

View of road 11, Banani





View Kamal Ataturk Ave - from Gulshan 2

Apartments, Road 16, Banani Bl-B


Road 23, Banani Bl-B

Plenty of trees yet on road 23, Banani

Canadian school, Road 23, Banani block-B

urban topaz, road 23, banani

Apartments, Lake side



Lake side view, Banani south

For more pictures of the city, please go to Skyscrapers and Cityscape