Editorial
A new flyover to city infrastructure
It couldn't have come later
WITH Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opening Mirpur-Airport Road flyover to be named after late President Zillur Rahman, it has added a feather to the government's cap. The commuters would have multiple benefits from the structure and the city's landscape will acquire another new vista after the Hatirjheel project. The 1.8 kilometre flyover extending from Matikata to Airport Road at Zia Colony is aimed to ease up traffic between Mirpur, Shahjalal International Airport, Uttara, Banani, Gulshan and Mohakhali areas.
Significantly, Mirpur inhabitants can travel to the airport in 20 minutes by covering a 3-kilometre distance instead of the 8-kilometre detour they used to take. The span of the flyover will also facilitate movements from Gulshan-Banani to Mirpur and Airport to Mirpur or Pallabi.
There will be easing of traffic congestion in a wide expanse of the city. It is likely to free up the ancillary roads to some extent, although an assessment would need to be made about the spin-off effects from the flyover.
In this context, it is worthwhile to note the overall arterial paradigm shift from the surface roads to the structures overhead. The work on Jatrabari-Gulshan flyover is moving apace and likely to be completed by June this year. This is a hugely important link to the east of Dhaka metropolis. Moghbazar-Satrasta flyover project has moved from the drawing board on to the ground. In addition, Paltan to Babubazar flyover across the Buriganga is still in a planning stage.
When all these flyovers will be in place the look of the city will be transformed and traffic tailbacks will hopefully be eased up.
The Mahajote government deserves kudos for the flyovers. Only that the maintenance of the elaborate city infrastructure will have to be constantly monitored and construction defects, if any, rectified with due speed and diligence. The stock practice of reveling in the implementation of the projects and then leaving them to wear and tear should be dispensed with. Let's not forget, flyovers are highly capital-intensive and, therefore, so very prized.
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