Ehsanul Haque Jasim :Although a portion of the Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover was opened with the aim of reducing traffic jam in the city, the experts and the urban planners voiced doubt about its effectiveness. They said that the flyover might, rather, compound sufferings of the commuters.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Satrasta intersection to Ramna Thana part of the flyover on Wednesday.The same situation prevailed on Thursday. A tailback was seen at the Satrasta intersection where the vehicles came down from the flyover. Some, however, said that the rush of vehicles was temporary.Many others said that the flyover wouldn’t ease the traffic jam in the city and the rush of vehicles would continue. The experts said that the situation on the roads beneath the flyover did not improve much due to the partial opening.Urban planner and former Chairman of the University Grant Commission (UGC) Prof Nazrul Islam said that the flyover would help ease public sufferings a little bit. The construction of a number of flyovers, including the latest Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover, will not yield the expected benefit considering the investment, he added.Architect Iqbal Habib said, there is nothing to be hilarious with the project. The project has little usefulness considering the volume of traffic. “As the planners failed to study the traffic impact assessment and traffic volume mobility comprehensively, it seems that the flyover project could be like a Mohakhali flyover one,” he added. He also said, the flyover is being erected with several faults. It has not enough options for vehicles taking right turn. It cannot ensure vehicles reaching destination in shorter time.Contrarily, Project Director Mohammad Nazmul Alam said that the traffic jam at Tejgaon-Satrasta intersection, FDC crossing, Moghbazar Level Crossing and Moghbazar areas would be reduced mostly following the inauguration of the first part of the flyover.He hoped that the second part of the flyover from Mouchak to Bangla Motor would be opened by June 30, while the third part from Kakrail to Rampura by December 16 this year, as 80 percent work of the project has already been completed.
