The delays in the Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover construction hit residents as well as commuters in the area with nagging traffic jam apart from dust particles covering the whole area.
Locals say the building of the overpass goes on at a slow pace while the site has also narrowed the streets.
The poor cleaning system of the Dhaka City Corporation lengthens people’s sufferings from dirt being a constant nuisance.
Thousands of pedestrians and commuters inhale the dusty air everyday passing through the areas.
The neighbourhood and commuters are eagerly waiting for the time that will relieve them of their daily sufferings.
The government has fallen behind its schedule to complete the construction work and open the flyover for public.
The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is the executive agency of the project while Belhasa Accom and Associates Ltd, a concern of Orion Group,is implementing the project at a cost of Tk20.53b.
Consulting Engineering Services (India) Pvt Ltd in association with DSCC, Devcon and DUL has designed the project while Indian construction firm, Simplex Infrastructure Limited, is its concessionaire.
The construction of the flyover from Shanir Akhra to Mahanagar Nattyamancha at Gulistan has been completed while only the piling has been done for the remaining part of the overpass. Moreover, 50% of the ramps’ construction work is over.
The project Director and Superintendent Engineer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) M Ashiqur Rahman saidlast year that the flyoverwould be inaugurated on March 26, 2013.
Earlier, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, state minister for LGRD and cooperatives, declared that the bridge would be open on December, 2012.
Almost half a dozen deadlines for completion of the project have already passed.
Orion Group was awarded the contract in 2005.
The Project Director M Ashiqur Rahman recently told Dhaka Tribune that the construction of the overpass is going on in full swing.
“We hope that the Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover construction would be completed by this June and be open for public right then,” he said.
M Ashiqur attributed the delay in construction to repeated hartals and other political unrest. He said the total length of the flyover is 10.8kmcovering the area from Shanir Akhra to Polashi.
This is the first event of public private partnership (PPP) project in the country. The investor will transfer the facility to the government after a concession period of 24 years.
According to Orion Group, the total length of the flyover including ramps is 9km.
There are a total of 13 ramps including 6 entry and 7 exit ramps for connection with the existing road networks and bus terminals.
The flyover wouldbe connected to Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Maowa, Dhaka-Demra highways and adjacent to different link roads of Jatrabari and Gulistan areas.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated construction ofthe flyover on June 22, 2010 and named it after former DCC mayor Mohammad Hanif.
