PM inaugurates Bahaddarhat Flyover today

Our Correspondent CHITTAGONG, Oct 11: Communication between the port city and country's south-eastern region will get a pace as the much-talked-about Bahaddarhat Flyover opens to traffic tomorrow (Saturday). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the flyover in the morning. She laid down the foundation of the nearly one kilometre long flyover on January 2, 2010 along with foundation-laying of two other proposed flyovers. However, those two proposed structures have now been dropped as the implementing agency CDA (Chittagong Development Authority) has undertaken another massive flyover project of 5.2 kilometres in length, country's longest ever flyover project, foundation of which is expected to be laid by the PM tomorrow as well. The Bahaddarhat Flyover still remains a scare to the city commuters because 15 people were killed and over 50 others were injured in a fatal incident on November 24 last year as three girders of the massive structure fell down upon the commuters and makeshift vendors there. Investigations into the incident revealed that the incident occurred due to negligence of the construction firm and engineers concerned of CDA. CDA executive engineer assigned to the post-accident construction work Md Ilyas said work of the flyover has been completed as the task was bestowed with the members of Chittagong Cantonment. Around 1,000 workers have been working day and night over the last few weeks to finish the approach roads on both ends of the structure under strong supervision of a special unit of the cantonment, he said. "Although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the flyover tomorrow, the remaining works of approach roads and carpeting will take some more time. The joining of slabs in some parts and finishing works will be completed in a few days," he said. The infrastructure was scheduled to be completed in December 2012 and the initial cost of the project was Tk 1.06 billion. But the collapse of three girders compelled the authority to suspend the rest of work until January last. With the interception of the Prime Minister the risky task of completion of the project was offered to the engineers of the cantonment, CDA sources said adding that the project cost later was increased to Tk 1.2 billion. Apart from opening the Bahaddarhat Flyover the Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay foundation of at least 11 other projects of the CDA and 17 projects in Patiya, Raozan and other areas. She will attend functions at Chittagong Cantonment and Naval Academy, open the mural on historic March 7 address of Bangabandhu at Chittagong Press Club and address a gathering of elite at the Jamiatul Falah Maidan in the city.