PM inaugurates Kuril flyover

Vehicles are plying on the Kuril flyover after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the flyover on Sunday. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the much-talked-about 3.1-kilometre Kuril flyover in the capital Sunday morning.

The 8.9 metre wide and 14.6 metre high flyover has been constructed on Kuril Bishwa Road with a hope that traffic congestion in adjoining areas will be reduced to a great extent.

It comprises four sections providing uninterrupted connection among Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Nikunja, Banani, Rampura and Purbachal areas.

Project Builders Limited, and China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation jointly built the flyover at a cost of Tk 306 crore, provided by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

According to a Rajuk estimate of 2007, around 1,57,000 vehicles coming from the five aforementioned areas crosses the Kuril intersection every day.

At present, a level crossing at the intersection closes 98 times every day, halting traffic for a total of eight hours and creating around one-kilometre long tailbacks in the five directions.

The flyover would help in the uninterrupted movement of traffic, saving valuable time and fuel of commuters, according to Rajuk official.

The present government approved the project, initially estimated to cost Tk 153 crore, in March 2010 and it was scheduled to be opened to traffic in December 2012.

The opening was deferred two more times, in March and June, while the costs doubled which Rajuk blame on frequent hartals and failure to acquire land on time.

The flyover’s foundation stone was laid by a former caretaker government chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, on December 17, 2008.