Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover, the country’s largest flyover built on PPP initiative, was opened to traffic on Friday, fulfilling a long-cherished dream of the city dwellers and also adding a new milestone in the country’s road communication system. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the much-awaited 11.8 kilometer-long flyover in the afternoon, terming it as a gift of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha for the city dwellers from the present Awami League government. “Before, we opened the Kuril Flyover, which was a gift of the Eid-ul-Fitr to the city dwellers. Today, we’ve inaugurated the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover, the largest flyover in the country, and it’s a gift of the Eid-ul-Azha for the city dwellers,” she said. The Prime Minister was addressing the inaugural function of the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Local Government Division Secretary Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan and Orion Group chairman Obaidul Karim also spoke on the occasion. Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation Mohammad Nazmul Islam presided over the function, while Project Director of the flyover Md Ashiqur Rahman gave an overview on the project. The Prime Minister earlier inaugurated the flyover, named after the first elected city mayor of Dhaka Mohammad Hanif, by unveiling its plaque at Kutubkhali (Shanir Akhra) point near the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. She reached Kutubkhali point from the Gulistan point riding on her jeep by using the flyover. After unveiling the plaque, she paid toll of Tk 50 for using the flyover. Addressing the function, Hasina said her government has always prioritized the interest of the common people so that their ways of living become easier. “We come to power to give, not for taking.” Mentioning that there has been a touch of development in every nook and corner of the country, she said that her government sincerely wants to make the Dhaka city livable and has been working ceaselessly to this end. The PM called upon all to supplement the government activities so that the country could be self-reliant and stand on its own feet instead of relying on begging. “We can not always move ahead through lending, rather we’ll be able to build the country with our talents and prudence, and I believe in this,” she said. Highlighting various pro-people activities of the present government in education, health, communication and ICT sector, Hasina said, “We’ve kept to what we’ve pledged.” She also hoped that this flyover would ease the communication of the city dwellers with the people of 30 districts of the south-eastern region of the country including Chittagong and Mongla ports. The Prime Minister also called upon the city dwellers not to throw any wastes here and there to keep the city clean and thus help maintain its beauty as well. She said that her government had extended English New Year greetings to the city dwellers through opening the Hatirjheel Project on January 2. “We double the joy by presenting new gifts to the countrymen in every festival.” Hasina said this flyover is the first public-private partnership project and international standard has been followed in its design and construction. With the construction of the flyover, she said Jatrabari-Sayedabad-Gulistan-Fulbaria-Palashi has been turned into a four lane road with modern facilities. The Prime Minister said the flyover built in one of the main gateways in the capital would play a crucial role in easing nagging traffic congestion. “To build a modern Dhaka free from traffic jam, we’ve taken various initiatives including construction of flyovers, elevated expressway, underground tunnel, ring road and waterway around Dhaka under the Strategic Transport Plan (STP).” She said her government has been implementing various programmes to increase civic amenities including removing water-logging, river and environmental pollution and unplanned urbanization. Hasina said Zillur Rahman Flyover, Kuril-Biswa Road Flyover, and the Banani Overpass have been constructed, while work on the 26-km elevated expressway is under way. She said initiatives have been undertaken to implement a number of mega projects in the capital. “We’ve implemented the Hatirjheel Project, the largest beautiful architectural landmark of the capital.” The Prime Minister said these projects have been playing an important role in easing traffic jam and increasing beautification of the city. “Movement of the city people will be easy with the execution of metro rail and Tejgaon-Mouchak Flyover.” He said it is very important to protect the environment and scenic beauty of Dhaka to build it as a livable city for the next generation. “So, I urge people to come forward to this end.” Hasina thanked all concerned for completing the mega project successfully. The flyover is expected to make road connectivity between 30 southeastern districts and the capital faster. It will also help ease the perennial traffic gridlock in Saydabad, Jatrabari, Tikatuli, Gulistan and Fulbaria areas. The Tk 2,300 crore project, country’s first ever Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, is being constructed on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. The concessionaire, Orion Infrastructure Ltd, is to hand it over to the government after 24 years of concession period, officials said. The construction work of the flyover began in 2010 under the supervision of Dhaka City Corporation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the flyover on June 22 in 2010. Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives is the line ministry of the project, while Dhaka South City Corporation is the executing agency. – UNB
