The under-construction Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover has major design flaws and may turn out to be detrimental for vehicles once it is opened to traffic, a team of experts have found.
There are two major flaws: first, the upward ramps are shorter than the downward ramps instead of being the other way round; and second, the design has been made for left-hand-drive traffic, but all vehicles in Bangladesh drive right-hand and the roads are also designed that way.
According to the plan, the upward ramps of the flyover stand on eight pillars while the downward ramps stand on 11.
Shorter upward ramps is a problem because vehicles need longer and less steep slopes to climb compared to what they need when they are coming down. Shorter upward ramps mean that many heavy vehicles such as big commercial buses and trucks might not be able to use the flyover at all.
There are a total of 16 ramps – eight upwards and eight downwards.
The left-hand-driving design made by a US consultant means that the flyover has all the wrong turns. For example, the only right turn on the flyover – if someone is coming from the direction of Moghbazar – is at Shantinagar. The remaining turns are all on the left because the design was made for vehicles with left-hand drives.
The design of the flyover was prepared by a US consultant. When the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) began construction, the unplanned underground utility lines caused troubles. Then a team of experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) was appointed for a solution. That team, while working on a local design tweak, found out the flaws in the flyover’s overall layout.
Construction work of the Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover goes on as per the wrong design meant for left-hand driving with the upward ramp steeper than the downward ramp. Bangladesh roads are made for right-hand driving. The picture was taken yesterday. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain
Prof Mehedi Ahmed Ansary, teacher of civil engineering at Buet, said that the expert team identified some faults and referred them to Prof AMM Taufiqul Anwar, the leader of the expert team. But Prof Taufiqul did not want to make any comments over their findings.
Sources said that the experts have already sent their recommendations to the authorities along with suggestions for a redesigning of the flyover.
If their suggestions are followed, as many as 60 pillars, which have already been built, will have to be demolished to reset the length of the ramps.
However, the LGED did not care about the suggestions. It said the suggestions could not be entertained because most of the construction work has been completed.
Project director Najmul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune: “If we change the design, the cost will increase again and the project duration will also be longer.
“More importantly, the donor will not agree to make more investments in the project.”
He also said: “One group of experts is saying that the design is not right. Others are saying that it is okay.”
Meanwhile, Buet experts who identified the design flaw in the first place said they had nothing to do because the LGED only sought their help regarding the underground utility lines, not the entire layout of the flyover.
Architect Ikbal Habib said: “Earlier, we have seen that a ramp could not be built towards Nabisco-Shatrasta from the Mohakhali flyover because that too was built for left-hand driving. As a result, the Mohakhali flyover did not come to much use either in reducing traffic pressure.”
When contacted, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Oabidul Quader recommended talking to the secretary of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC).
MAN Siddique, member secretary of NRSC and secretary to the Road Transport and Highways Division, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have a separate wing for road safety and it is working to solve the engineering problems in roads and infrastructure. If anybody or any authorities tell us about the problems, we will try to solve them.”
The 8.7km Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover is being built in three phases. In the first phase to be completed by March, the part from Shatrasta to Holy Family Hospital will be opened to traffic.
In the second phase slated for December opening, the part connecting Mouchak and Bangla Motor will be opened. In the last phase, scheduled for June 2017 completion, the hand from Rampura to Shantinagar will be opened, according to a revised plan.
The new plan also suggests that the flyover can withstand earthquakes of up to 10 on the Richter scale.
