Govt building overpasses at 4-way intersections: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today her government is building overpasses at the places of four-way intersections to ease communications by mitigating traffic congestions.

“From now on, we will be building overpasses at the places of four-way intersections for making communications smooth and easier alongside stopping traffic gridlocks,” she said while inaugurating three development schemes.

The premier inaugurated the four-lane ‘Second Kanchpur Bridge’ on the river Shitalakkhya, four-lane flyover at Bhulta and a railway overpass at Latifpur on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway through a video conference from her official residence Ganobhaban here.

“There will be no four-way intersections at the places are meant for roads or rails. Initiatives have been taken to this end,” she said.

At the beginning of the function, Prime Minister categorically said that Bangladesh in future will send its cricket team abroad after examining and reviewing the security measures of the host countries.

“In the future, whenever we will send our cricket team abroad, we will do it after examining and reviewing the security matters of the host countries,” she said.

She also said that Bangladesh always gives the highest security whenever any foreign cricket team comes to play here.

Condemning the terrorist attacks in New Zealand, Sheikh Hasina said that there is nothing heinous than killing people when they were offering their prayers.

Unveiling three development schemes at Kanchpur and Rupganj in Narayanganj and Kaliakair in Gazipur, the premier said, the projects will help in making easier and more developed the communications between Dhaka and Chattogram and country’s southeastern region and Dhaka and Sylhet and country’s Northeastern region.

The schemes will help accelerate the pace of industrialization, trade and commerce and thus increase the standard of lives of the people alongside decreasing traffic gridlocks and saving time, she mentioned.

The premier proposed to rename the ‘Second Kanchpur Bridge’ as ‘Shitalakkhya Bridge’ aimed at the saving the name of the river which was accepted by all.

She asked the authorities concerned to strictly monitor the weight meter so that no overweighed vehicles can cross the bridges as it reduces the duration of the bridges.

In this context, she also suggested the vehicles carrying non-perishable items to use ferries instead of bridges.

In this context, she recalled the contribution of Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and requested all to pray for his early recovery. Quader is now being treated at a hospital in Singapore.

Sheikh Hasina hoped to visit the bridge along with Obaidul Quader as per his desire.

The four-lane bridge is 397.3-metre long and 18.1-metre wide. Its construction cost is Taka 950 crore.

The construction work of second Kanchpur Bridge was completed nearly four months before the June 2019 deadline.

However, the three-lane 329.01-metre Latifpur Railway Overpass has been constructed at Kalakair in Gazipur district and four-lane Bhulta Flyover has been constructed at a cost of Taka 353.36 crore at Bhulta under Rupganj Upazila in Narayanganj.

The 2nd Meghna and the 2nd Meghna-Gumti bridges will be opened for the traffic soon as their construction are almost complete.

Highlighting her government’s initiatives in the last 10 years for the development of roads and railways, the premier said, “We have already started construction work of Padma Bride with our own finance and construction of a tunnel under the river Karnaphuli.”

A total of 417 kilometers of highways have been upgraded to four-lane while the Jatrabari-Kanchpur Highway has been made eight-lane, a 80km marine drive has been constructed from Teknaf to Cox’s Bazar and seven flyovers have already been built in Dhaka, Chattogram, Cumilla, and Tongi, she said.

The construction of metro rail is going on, the premier said, adding that once the constructions of those are completed the communication system will develop and traffic jam will reduce.

Sheikh Hasina said the Dhaka-Sylhet highway will be made four-lane and a project to this respect has already been taken.

Regarding development of railways, she said that 330.15 km rail lines have already been constructed while the Jamuna Bridge has been brought under the railway coverage and railways will also be constructed on the Padma Bridge which will go up to Barishal.

She asked all the people to obey the traffic rules and the authorities concerned to check road accidents.

Proper training of drivers and helpers and allowing the drivers of buses and trucks to take rest at every two or three hour intervals are necessary alongside stopping unhealthy competitions among the vehicles to check the accidents, she mentioned.

The premier asked the authorities not to allow the drivers to engage in unhealthy race as the lives of the people are priceless.

Recalling the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in nation building, the premier said that during his visit to Japan, Bangabandhu requested then Japanese government to make feasibility study for construction of Jamuna Bridge.

Describing Japan as a trusted friend and development partner of Bangladesh, she said, “Japan has done a lot for us since the Liberation War and the time of reorganizing a war-ravaged country after achieving independence in 1971.”

The prime minister later talked to the cross section of people including public representatives, freedom fighters, government officials, students, teachers and beneficiaries of different projects.

PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman moderated the function while PM’s Political Adviser HT Imam was present on the dais.

Japanese Ambassador in Bangladesh Hiroyasu Izumi and JAICA’s Bangladesh Representative spoke on the occasion.