Mega plan taken to end traffic jam in Dhaka city: Minister

The government has undertaken a mega plan for resolving traffic jam from Dhaka city, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam told the House Wednesday, reports BSS. Replying to a scripted question from BNP lawmaker Ashrafuddin Nizam, he said under the plan, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is constructing Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover, the first project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP). "The project would be completed on December 31 in 2012," he said. The LGRD minister also said a multistoried car park was constructed at Motijheel in the city and it would start functioning very soon. "No money was spent by the government or the DCC for the park as it was built through complete private financing," he added. Ashraf also said the project for constructing underpasses at Shahbag, Sheraton, Banglamotor and Sonargaon crossings is at the final stage for approval in the first phase. In the second phase, he said, there is a plan for constructing five underpasses and a U-turn grade separator. "With the implementation of the project, the road from the airport to Jatrabari via Gulistan and Saidabad would be freed from traffic jam," he hoped. Syed Ashraf said the government has also undertaken a plan to construct underpasses at Moghbazar, Malibagh, FDC Crossing and Jurain Level Crossing and the project would be implemented within one year. For smooth movement of the people, he said, a project has been taken to set up 25 new foot over bridges in the city. Of them, the construction of five is going on.