BANGLADESH

The project cost of the 1.8-km Mirpur-Airport Road flyover through the restricted Dhaka Cantonment zone, an overpass and a connecting bridge at Banani rail crossing has doubled.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved the revised Construction of Flyover at Mirpur-Airport Road and Overpass at Banani Rail Crossing project, for which the cost has gone up to Tk 3.6 billion from the original outlay of Tk 1.92 billion.

The approval was given at its meeting held in the NEC conference room in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The deadline to implement the project has also been extended by one year.

The top economic policymaking body of the government approved a total of seven development projects, including one for the construction of the flyover, Acting Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam told reporters after the meeting.

The army's Special Works Organisation (SWO), and the Roads and Highways Department of the communications ministry took charge of the project last June 2010 with the target of completing it by June 2012.

In the revised project plan, the implementation deadline has been extended by one year. The total project cost be borne by the national exchequer.

Installations from about seven acres of land are being removed and relocated from the restricted Dhaka Cantonment zone to implement the project.

The project cost have been revised due to more space required for two additional lanes dedicated to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, inclusion of a new connecting bridge, increased width and length of the flyover and overpass and the overall increase in the cost of the project work.

The revised project aims to ease the city's nagging traffic jam, ensure signal-free uninterrupted traffic operation, and to reduce road mishaps and development of traffic management at the Banani railway crossing and its neighbouring areas including Army Stadium and Naval Headquarters.

Starting from Matikata, the flyover ends at Radisson Hotel. People using the flyover would not face the cantonment's check posts. At present, the residents of Mirpur and Pallabi have to take a long detour at Bijoy Sarani or Agargaon to go to airport putting extra pressure on the busy Airport Road.

The 0.8-km Banani overpass will have six lanes and a designated road. A link bridge will connect the overpass with the flyover.