Khilgaon flyover ready

The Khilgaon Flyover is likely to be open to the public on March 23 subject to the finalisation of the date by the Prime Minister's Office. PHOTO: STAR

The Khilgaon flyover could be opened for commissioning on the 23rd of this month, said Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) sources.

"The Prime Minister's Office has unofficially conveyed the message to us that the Prime Minister is free to inaugurate the flyover on that date. But it has not been finalised yet," said a senior official of LGED.

The flyover, second of its kind in Bangladesh, was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2004 but the LGED later sought more time to finish the construction. The finishing touches have been given and all the beautification work is also complete. "It will be opened for the general public once the Prime Minister inaugurates it," said the official.

LGED officials hoped that once inaugurated, the flyover, which has three wings connecting Khilgaon, Rajarbagh and Sayedabad, would drastically reduce the traffic congestion in the area.

An official said the road below the flyover has been widened, carpeted and illegal occupants have been evicted. "Already there is less traffic congestion," he claimed.

All types of motorised vehicles will be allowed on the flyover, the official added. "But obviously non-motorised ones would not be able to use the flyover because of their speed."

Work on the 2,505-meter long structure began in September 2001 with a Tk 74 crore budget and it was scheduled to finish by February 2003. However, delay in fund allocation and slow land acquisition put back completion.