Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurates the Mirpur-Airport Road flyover yesterday. Photo: Star

Rural employment opportunities and civic services would prevent the onrush of people to Dhaka and help relieve traffic congestion in the capital, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while opening the Mirpur-Airport Road flyover yesterday.
The 1.8-kilometre flyover, which extends from Matikata to Airport Road at Zia Colony, is aimed at easing up traffic movement between Mirpur, Shahjalal International Airport, Uttara, Banani, Gulshan and Mohakhali areas, she noted.
Mirpur inhabitants can now get to the airport by travelling only a 3-kilometre distance in about 20 minutes, avoiding an 8km detour through Bijoy Sarani. Similarly, the Tk 200-crore flyover will benefit Gulshan-Banani residents travelling to Mirpur.
Commuters from Banani and Gulshan will be able to go to Mirpur by taking the link bridge on the west of Banani overpass. Passengers from the airport who are willing to go to Mirpur or Pallabi will also benefit from the flyover, to be named after late president Zillur Rahman.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said thousands of people come to the capital city every day for different reasons.

Prime minister takes a ride on the flyover with her motorcade. Photo: Star

But in absence of adequate road facilities, city commuters have to remain stuck in tailbacks for long stretches of time. This eats into their valuable working hours, she added.
She, however, ruled out the idea of administrative decentralisation to reduce the density of population in the capital, saying Bangladesh is a small country and it will not be realistic to split it into several independent, administrative units.
Earlier, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, who was present at the opening ceremony, had said all divisional cities should be turned into provincial centres to free the capital from being excessively centralised in terms of administration, business, education and medical services.
Ministers, local lawmakers and chiefs of three services also attended the ceremony at Army Golf Club of Dhaka Cantonment.