The construction work of the integrated Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover in the capital faces delay as the piling works encounter the pipeline infrastructure haphazardly laid underground a decade ago.
A section of officials and engineers concerned with the construction project attributed the delay to an unplanned and faulty installation of water and gas pipelines, sewer pipes and power and telephone cables.
The procrastination of the construction project leads to sufferings of the city dwellers.
The Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover Project Director Nazmul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune construction work slowed down as the piling works were frequently come across pipelines and cables haphazardly laid underground.
LGED Executive Engineer Nazmul added that they were facing no other problems except this on the way to implement the project.
The flyover construction will be completed by 2015, he hoped.
In reply to a query about where the construction materials and equipment were kept, the project director said they used Siddheshwari Girl’s High School ground and backyard of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute to put them.
The site engineers of construction companies involved with the project echoed the same as Nazmul.
They said pipelines and cables were arbitrarily installed underground which was causing the delay in doing the piling works, first and foremost task for doing any major construction.
While digging roads as part of piling work to install pillars, pipelines surfaced, and to keep those utility operating networks unaffected, project designs were needed to be changed that consumed time, they added.
Sometimes, the redesigning took a whole week when coming across the unexpected underground pipelines just in the middle of the piling work, said the engineers.
Meanwhile, locals alleged that their sufferings were at their peak because of severe traffic congestion, noise and air pollution in the wake of the ongoing construction.
A Malibagh resident Tanvir Ahmed said roads in the area narrowed as they were occupied for putting bricks and other construction materials out there.
The narrowness of the roads had contributed to an unbearable traffic jam in the rush hour, he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on February 16 this year inaugurated the 8.25km integrated Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover.
The overpass aimed at easing traffic movement across the north and south ends of the capital as part of the 20-year Strategic Transport Plan for the capital.
After competition, the flyover will have a total of 15 ramps for vehicular access to and exit from the flyover.
The ramps are at Shat Rasta, Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, Holy Family Hospital, Eskaton, Rajarbagh Police Lines, Moghbazar crossing, Malibagh, Mouchak, Shantinagar and Rampura.
The project is being implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives.
The estimated cost of the four-lane flyover is around Tk7.73bn of which the government is providing about Tk2bn, Saudi Fund for Development about Tk3.76bn and OPEC Fund for International Development about Tk1.97bn.
The project was approved at an Executive Committee of National Economic Council meeting on March 8, 2012.
The LGED in 2005 carried out the feasibility study of the project funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
The Danish and Bangladesh joint venture firms M/S Simplex-Navana JV and Bangladesh-India joint venture firm, MCCC-4 ACL-ODC, will complete the construction in two years, and MCCC (No. 4)-SEL-UDC JV. Toma Constructions carries out construction works on sub-contract.
