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.
