Transport operators avoid it due to higher tolls
The recently-inaugurated Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover is not being utilised at the expected level as transport operators are showing less interest in using the infrastructure due mainly to higher tolls.
As a result, severe traffic jams at Syedabad-Jatrabari point continue to cause untold sufferings to passengers.
To avoid the excessive tolls being charged by the flyover builders, most of the highway and city buses run through the dilapidated road under the 10.8-kilometre-long flyover.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 5.5-km main structure of the flyover stretching from Dhaka-Chittagong highway (Kutubkhali) to Nimtoli through Jatrabari, Kaptanbazar and Gulistan on October 11 last.
The transport operators said the partially-opened flyover has failed to ease gridlock in the capital’s southeastern parts. Some of the important up-and-down ramps connecting Sayedabad, Demra and Dhaka-Mawa road haven’t been completed yet.
During a visit to the project areas in Gulistan, Sayedabad, Janapath, Jatrabari, Demra and Kutubkhali on Sunday, it was observed that most of the passenger buses, minibuses and CNG-run three wheelers were found plying under the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover.
“We cannot use the flyover because of slow progress in finishing construction works at up-and-down ramps at Golapbagh point of Sayedabad,” driver of Comilla-bound Tisha Paribahan Babul Miah told the FE.
According to the project, highway buses for southeastern districts of the country will climb the flyover by using Golapbagh up-and-down ramps.
Officials involved in the country’s first ever PPP (public private partnership) project said it would take at least three more months to complete the entire infrastructure.
“The revised high toll charge has prompted many of the bus drivers to use the roads below the flyover,” said Karim Sheikh, a ticket counterman of the Shyamoli Paribahan at Sayedabad.
He was very critical about the condition of the roads under the flyover. He said the roads are being squeezed gradually due to piled-up construction materials, causing severe traffic jams at Jatrabari and in nearby areas.
“The situation will not improve unless construction of up- and-down ramps at Golapbagh point of Jatrabari is finished,” Siddiqul Alam, a driver of Chittagong-bound Hanif Paribahan, said. Buses starting from Gulistan would be the most benefited ones with the opening of the main structure, he said.
Talking to the FE, Rahul, a toll collector at Kutubkhali point, admitted that lesser number of transport operators use the flyover. He said the scenario will be changed after cent per cent completion of the structure.
For a single trip, Tk 10 has been fixed as toll for a motorbike, Tk 18 for an auto-rickshaw, Tk 60 for a car, Tk 70 for a jeep, Tk 85 for a microbus, Tk 130 for a pickup van, Tk 173 for a minibus, Tk 173 for a four-wheel truck, Tk 260 for a bus and a six-wheeler truck and Tk 345 for a trailer.
Meanwhile, some of the Gulistan-based transport operators increased transportation fare by Tk 5 to Tk 7 per passenger in the face of excessive toll charge.
Sirajuddin, ticket counterman of Meghna-bound passenger bus Swadesh Paribahan, said they have raised transportation fare at Tk 45 instead of previously charged Tk 40 for a single trip to Meghna Ghat from Gulistan.
Transportation companies like Doel Paribahan, Ashiyan Paribahan, Bandhan Paribahan and Borak Paribahan follow the revised fare chart.
It was also observed that many of the BRTC (Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation) buses plying from Gulistan avoided the flyover for higher toll charge.
The road infrastructure, named as Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover, was expected to make road connectivity between 32 southeastern districts and the capital faster.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is the executive agency of the project and Belhasa Accom and Associates, a concern of Orion Group, in charge of building the flyover, has been implementing the project at a cost of Tk 23.0 billion. According to the agreement, the construction works were supposed to be finished within two years, which ended in June 2012. Then the project authorities extended the deadline for more than six times.
The flyover, which has 12 ramps, will connect Dhaka-Chittagong highway, Dhaka-Mawa highway, Dhaka-Demra road and Atish-Dipankar road and the roads to Sayedabad, Motijheel, Gulistan, Bangabandhu Avenue and Plassey.
Source: Financial Exp-ress
