PM vows to build Dhaka as smart city

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government would build Dhaka as a "smart city" as she opened the Kalshi flyover and a six-lane road from ECB Square to Kalshi to traffic at Mirpur.

Addressing a public rally at Kalshi Balur Math after opening the flyover, the prime minister said her government's priority is people's welfare, reports the BSS.

She also announced the flyover would be renamed after Harun Mollah due to his glorious contribution to the Liberation War and all the democratic and progressive movements of the country.

The premier added that developing communication in the capital is another priority for her government.

She said the 2.34km Kalshi flyover and 3.70 km widened and developed six-lane road from the ECB square would ease the communication in Mirpur, DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Manikdi, Matikata, Bhashantek, Banani, Uttara and the Airport.

The traffic jam of Dhaka would decline significantly after opening the Kalshi Flyover and the six-lane road following the metro rail, she hoped.

About measures taken for the development of Dhaka North City, Sheikh Hasina said, 23 projects involving Tk3,500 crore have been implemented in the last 12 years since Dhaka city was divided into two parts in 2011.

She said 16 projects worth over Tk3,000 crore have also been implemented in Dhaka South City Corporation over the years.

She mentioned that under the projects, development of communication and infrastructures in the capital including its beautification, improvement of water supply management, construction and development of footpath and waste management alongside roads, bridges and flyovers were made.

The prime minister has announced plans to build Kalshi Balur Math as an amusement park with a playground for the children and youths and walkways for the movement of the aged persons.

After inauguration, she took the Kalshi flyover to reach her official Ganabhaban residence in the city.

The ECNEC on Jan 9, 2018 approved the project, under which, a 3.70 km stretch of road from the ECB square to Kalshi was widened, while the 2.34 km long Kalshi flyover was constructed at the Kalshi intersection under the Local Government Division of the Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Bangladesh Army (24 Engineer Construction Brigade) implemented the project at a cost of around Taka 1,012 crore.

The construction work of the project started in January in 2018 and it was completed four months prior to the stipulated time in June, 2023.

According to the project details, the flyover looks like an English alphabet 'Y'. The previously four lane roads have been widened to six lanes to ease passenger commute.

The main four-lane flyover runs from ECB square towards Kalshi and Mirpur DOHS, while a two-lane ramp descends from Kalshi intersection to Kalshi Road.

The project also includes extension of a PC girder bridge, construction of two foot over-bridges, a public toilet, two police boxes, a 7.40 kilometer RCC drain and saucer drain, a 1755 meter RCC pipe drain, retaining wall, 3,383 meter communication duct, 800000 linear meter sand compaction pile, separate bicycle lanes, and six bus bays.

At least two overhead footbridges with escalators have been constructed next to the flyover.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and Dhaka-16 lawmaker Md Elias Uddin Mollah spoke at the rally.

State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee, and Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim, were present on the dais.

Commander of 24 Engineer Construction Brigade gave a brief presentation on the Kalshi Flyover and the six-lane road.