DNCC to construct 36 new footover bridges

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will construct 36 new footover bridges as part of its 'Road Safety along with Improvement of Traffic Infrastructure in DNCC' project despite widespread criticism regarding this overpass which is hardly commuter friendly.
The estimated cost of the project is Tk 3.19 billion which will be implemented between October 2020 and June 2023. Of the total cost the government will provide Tk 2.55 billion while the DNCC Tk 638 million.
The objective of the project is to construct traffic infrastructure in the city taking into consideration the engineering aspects to ensure the safety of the major roads.
The components of the project are - road development 13.68 km, side sewer line 09 km, piped sewer line 6.58 km, footpath development 26.58 km, road median development 7.74 km, MS grill fencing 22.77 km, MS grill fencing 22.31 km, traffic sign installation 1,710, passenger shed 50, new foot-over bridge construction 36, existing foot-over bridge development 47, escalator installation in foot-over bridges 16.
Talking to the FE regarding increasing the safety aspect through the project, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) professor Shamsul Haque said that the city can be brought under super discipline without spending any money. Lack of safety on the roads develops from the chaotic roads, overcrowded with vehicles, indulged in unhealthy competition and unruly rickshaws.
Referring to the guidelines on road safety prepared in 2005, Mr Haque said that there are several low cost options prescribed to make the roads safe and bring the city traffic in discipline. In the first place, public transports need to be brought under bus route franchise like it is seen in Dhakar Chaka, there will be no unhealthy competition if it is implemented.
Secondly, the rickshaws now ply in a real indiscipline manner. These should be controlled strictly.
Thirdly, there will be visible improvement if development takes place without any infrastructure. The footpaths should be commuter-friendly.
Fourthly, the parking on the roads should be curbed. Finally, a signaling system should be made functional to bring the city traffic under discipline as there are infrastructures already set up.
"It needs only four to five penniless measures to make Dhaka city roads safe. But everyone prefers investment related projects. The mayors should get rid of the passion from the infrastructure related development thoughts as it will make greater loss to the country," he said.
Citing an example of the flyovers in the name of infrastructure development for the wellbeing of the citizens, Mr Haque said those ultimately came to no help. No one paid attention in these aspects, he mentioned.
"They construct investments involving infrastructures without considering their benefits. But the mayors should look for cost efficient ways to make sustainable development," he added.
Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) president Professor Akter Mahmud said that the footpath development component is OK if there is fencing so that people cannot jump on the roads by taking risks. It is necessary to consider the location of the footover bridge as there is no need for such bridges at intersections where people can cross the roads at grade.
"Footover bridge should be part of a comprehensive plan and not on an ad-hoc basis. Footover bridge is preferable where fast moving vehicles ply like at the airport road," he said.
The passenger sheds are necessary but the city corporation should construct those at proper locations and monitor so that those are not grabbed by anyone or misused for other purposes, he added.

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