Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover, the first such project to be built through private investment without involving any government fund or foreign loan support.

This will be the third flyover in the country after the ones at Mohakhali and Khilgaon.

The four-lane and 8km long flyover is to be built on a build-own-operate-and-transfer (BOOT) basis and expected to complete in three years.

The Dhaka-Chittagong highway, Dhaka-Maowa highway, Demra road, Atisth Dipankor road, Saydabad Bus Terminal, Dayaganj road, and Hatkhola and Gulistan roads will be connected through the planned flyover.

Unveiling the plaque of the project at a simple ceremony, the prime minister said the flyover would have a positive and long-term impact countrywide on all sectors including trade and economy.

She said construction of the flyover would herald a new horizon of communication through resolving unbearable traffic jams at Jatrabari, Saydabad, Motijheel, Gulistan, Dayaganj and Wari areas. It will also ensure smooth communication with Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet divisions.

Khaleda said participation of the private sector has become urgent for quick development of the country's infrastructure sectors.

In this context, she hoped that construction of Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover would further encourage and attract local and foreign investors to invest in the infrastructure sectors.

She said this latest flyover project is a part of the government's ongoing efforts to improve communication network of the Dhaka city.

The Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover will be of international standard having all modern facilities.

She claimed her government built the country's first flyover at the capital's Mahakhali area in November 2004 and afterwards put into operation the second flyover at Khilgaon in the city.

The PM informed the function that her government has also a plan to construct an elevated expressway and an underground railway in the city to establish developed communication system.

On the Padma Bridge, she said that technical study has already been completed. “We will soon start the construction works of the Padma Bridge.”

The Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover project will be financed, designed, implemented and maintained by Belhasa-Accom and Associates Ltd, a joint venture company formed between Belhasa International LLC of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Accom Engineering Company Ltd of Bangladesh.

The firm will collect toll by electronic system from users of the flyover for a period of 24 years to realize their investment in the project.

An agreement was signed between Dhaka City Corporation, the client, and Belhasa-Accom and Associates Ltd, the builders of the project, in June 2005.

On completion of the project, the flyover shall not only improve the capacity of the roads by putting in place an efficient transport system but will also ease traffic flows from as many as 30 districts.

Presided over by Dhaka City Mayor Sadeq Hossain Khoka, the inaugural function at the Gulistan Chattar was also attended ministers, MPs, foreign investors and a throng of people.