Mayors of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) had given commitment that the spaces beneath the flyovers would be freed for ensuring vehicles’ movement and healthy environment for the people. However, the they have not yet freed the spaces from the influential vested elements.
Spaces under the flyovers are widely occupied and filled up with garbage. Most of the roads beneath the flyovers and railway overpass are under illegal occupation with makeshift kitchen markets, shops and shanties here and there, according to media reports.
Besides, illegal and haphazard parking and markets under almost all the flyovers in the capital are depriving people of the benefit of the elevated structures. The vehicles and the illegal structures are choking the roads and creating bottlenecks. The capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, has ranked the sixth most populous city in the world. Therefore, traffic congestion is a common scene in Dhaka. To mitigate this nagging issue, the government has built eight flyovers in the capital over the last 22 years.
There are eight flyovers in Dhaka under the jurisdiction of the DSCC and DNCC. These are the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover, Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover, Khilgaon Flyover, Mohakhali Flyover, Kuril Flyover, Banani Zillur Rahman Flyover, Tejgaon-Bijoy Sarani and Kalshi Flyover. The three major flyovers are the Mayor Hanif, Moghbazar-Mouchak, and Kuril flyovers. The remaining flyovers are of medium and small size. The Awami League government has also made huge development of communication system with constructing elevated expressway, metro rails and over bridges in the city. Roads under a flyover must remain free for traffic movement but that is not happening here as the authorities concerned seem to be reluctant to implement their commitment.
They have not yet freed
the spaces from the
influential vested
elements
According to a study, approximately 207 acres of land beneath the flyovers in Dhaka city are officially vacant. Despite being government property, these areas have become shelters for extortionists and sites of illegal activities. As a result, the social, economic, environmental and public health losses amount to more than $2 billion or Tk23,000 crore every year. There is a colony of about 200 families living under the Mayor Hanif Flyover. This colony is built around the pillars of the flyover and has gas, electricity, water connections, and a sewerage system. Fires often occur in this area. Most of the areas have been leased for various vehicles, including buses.
Additionally, migratory people live beneath these flyovers in the areas of Bangabazar, Rajdhani Super Market in Tikatuli, and Sayedabad. These spaces have now become a chaotic mess for the city and many sections of them are mostly polluted. It is alleged that no one dares set up shop or makeshift market under the spaces of these flyovers without paying local hoodlums and extortionists.
These flyovers become a place of danger in the evening, with frequent reports of open drug transactions, consumption, gambling, and robbery. The areas under the flyovers are heavily occupied, mismanaged and littered with garbage. Different quarters are currently occupying these spaces and using those for all sorts of activities.
The city authorities should have a comprehensive plan for the abandoned areas below the flyover. They must free up and recover these spaces so that vehicles can move freely under the flyovers as well as an open and airy environment is created for the residing citizens.
