Opening of three key bridges, two flyovers becomes uncertain

The inauguration of three important bridges on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway and two flyovers on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway for traffic movement has become uncertain.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) has deferred the ceremony of inaugurating the bridges and flyovers, scheduled on March 10.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was supposed to inaugurate 2nd Kanchpur, 2nd Meghna and 2nd Gumti bridges on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway along with inauguration of Bhulta flyovers on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway.

The schedule has been deferred for an uncertain period following illness of MoRTB Minister Obaidul Quader, officials said.

Mr Quader, also general secretary of Awami League, was hospitalised on Sunday morning with breathing problem and was diagnosed with blockages in three coronary arteries. He was taken to Singapore on Monday afternoon for better treatment.

The MoRTB finalised the inauguration date on March 10 after getting schedule of the prime minister.

The officials also said it will take some time to fix the next date of inauguration of these infrastructures.

The second bridges over Kanchpur, Meghna and Gumti rivers have been planned to align with the design of four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.

The key highway faces long queues of vehicles and subsequent gridlock almost every day on both sides of the three existing bridges, which are two-lane and in a vulnerable condition to take heavy traffic pressure.

The Bhulta flyover is constructed to facilitate traffic to and from Dhaka-Sylhet Highway and Dhaka Bypass Highway without facing traffic congestion by avoiding Bhulta Bazar.

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