Govt to build flyover, underpass instead of tunnel planned earlier

The government has decided to construct a flyover and an underpass instead of tunnel planned earlier to connect the capital's Jahangir Gate and Rokeya Swarani at Agargoan to cut distance and traffic congestions, officials said Thursday.
Roads and Transport Ministry officials said they have changed their decision due to reservation from the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) on security reasons at the old airport.
 "Bangladesh Bridge Authority will build 140 metres underpass and 490 metres flyover with 580 metres ramp of the flyover and 440 metres long service roads from Jahangir Gate to Agargaon to reduce traffic volume in front of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)," said a senior Road Transport and Bridges Ministry official.
He said they needed US$55 million (Tk4.40 billion) to build the flyover and underpass.
"The Bridge Division has already requested the Economic Relations Division (ERD) to seek necessary funds. And it has already requested the Planning Commission to approve the preliminary development project proposal," the official said.
The Mohakhali-Jahangir Gate-PMO office-Bijoy Swarani is one of the busiest routes in the capital city where passengers waste hour due to heavy traffic congestions.
Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) officials said the proposed underpass and flyover would reduce the traffic volume of this route as the cars, buses and other vehicles towards Mirpur, Mohammadpur and Gabtoli can use it.
Meanwhile, a BBA-appointed consultancy firm had conducted a feasibility study and proposed seven options of transport infrastructure from Jahangir Gate to Rokeya Swarani at Agargaon
Out of the seven options, the BBA has picked up the above option for constructing the flyover and underpass for the traffic movement, officials said.
A Denmark-Bangladesh joint-venture company SME, COWI Association Denmark, AEC Consultant Ltd. Bangladesh had conducted the study.
A few years ago, the BBA had planned to build a tunnel between the Jahangir Gate and Rokeya Swarani at Agargaon. But the project faced setback due to objection from the Bangladesh Air Force on security ground at the old airport, officials said.
Now the Bridge Authority has been forced to change the tunnel project and decided to build the flyover and underpass setting a new route between the two points, they said.
The BBA official said if they could construct the planned tunnel under the national parade ground, it would have been the shortest distance.
He said this time they had taken decision to build the flyover and underpass between the Jahangir Gate and Rokeya Swarani at Agargaon by June 2018.
 "Soon after mobilising funds for the Tk 4.40 billion project, we will go for inviting tender to build the new multi-lane transport link between the Jahangir Gate and Agargaon," he added.
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