UNB, Dhaka :
Already predicted to be a huge burden for the capital in near future, the ground floors of huge flyovers have gone into grip of illegal occupants creating public nuisances in many cases.
During an investigation conducted by the UNB correspondents, it was found that footwear shops, restaurants, tea stalls, garbage boxes, poultry cage shops, quilt shops, kitchen markets, haphazardly parked vehicles, push cards, vans have occupied the ground floors of the city flyovers in many areas.
Even under the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover in front of Nagar Bhaban a number of restaurants and tea stalls have been set up blocking the road spaces as a large number of people take launch there from 12 noon to 4pm like regular city restaurants.
A portion under the same flyover in front of Bangabhaban is also used by poultry shops and van pullers while garbage boxes of Dhaka South City Corporation are kept at Hatkhola point beneath the same flyover.
During a visit to North Shahjahanpur area last week, it was seen quilts were being made under the Khilgaon Flyovers occupying a huge space while push-cards are kept haphazardly at many points under it.
These two flyovers are no exception. It is now a common scenario under almost all city flyovers. Even, the under-construction Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover has already gone under the control of illegal occupants, mostly vendors.
City Corporation officials said it is the duty of the construction company to build gardens on the medians of flyovers.
Additional Chief Engineer of Dhaka South City Corporation Md Nurul Amin said at amount of around Tk 23 crore has already been sanctioned to repair both sides of nearly 10 KM roads from Joykali Mandir to Jatrabari under Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover.
Besides, footpath repair and drainage construction works have been included in the project, he said adding that other parts under the flyover will be repaired depending on the availability of fresh funds.
Asked about gardening on the medians under of flyovers, he said under the agreement Orion Group, the main constriction contractor of the Flyover, is supposed to build gardens.
Several letters have already sent to Orion Group to build gardens after removing the existing garbage under the flyover but it is yet to respond, said DSCC chief engineer Habibur Rahman.
He said, even the city corporation extended time of the flyover project twice in November last year, but Orion Grop is yet to submit any project closure report.
Asfaq, manager of Corporate Affairs of Orion Group, was not available to make any comment in this regard.
Contacted, architect Iqbal Habib said flyover ground floors should not reduce the capacity of urban connectivity rather facilitate it.
“There can be urban activities, community participatory use and informal business like vending and also green gardening for the availability under any flyover ground floors. Urban planning initiatives with comprehensive and holistic approach are needed in this regard and it should be implemented ensuring appropriate public participation and co-management,” he suggested.
Lack of maintenance, he said, is endangering the structural integrity and longevity of flyovers, he said.
Already predicted to be a huge burden for the capital in near future, the ground floors of huge flyovers have gone into grip of illegal occupants creating public nuisances in many cases.
During an investigation conducted by the UNB correspondents, it was found that footwear shops, restaurants, tea stalls, garbage boxes, poultry cage shops, quilt shops, kitchen markets, haphazardly parked vehicles, push cards, vans have occupied the ground floors of the city flyovers in many areas.
Even under the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover in front of Nagar Bhaban a number of restaurants and tea stalls have been set up blocking the road spaces as a large number of people take launch there from 12 noon to 4pm like regular city restaurants.
A portion under the same flyover in front of Bangabhaban is also used by poultry shops and van pullers while garbage boxes of Dhaka South City Corporation are kept at Hatkhola point beneath the same flyover.
During a visit to North Shahjahanpur area last week, it was seen quilts were being made under the Khilgaon Flyovers occupying a huge space while push-cards are kept haphazardly at many points under it.
These two flyovers are no exception. It is now a common scenario under almost all city flyovers. Even, the under-construction Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover has already gone under the control of illegal occupants, mostly vendors.
City Corporation officials said it is the duty of the construction company to build gardens on the medians of flyovers.
Additional Chief Engineer of Dhaka South City Corporation Md Nurul Amin said at amount of around Tk 23 crore has already been sanctioned to repair both sides of nearly 10 KM roads from Joykali Mandir to Jatrabari under Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover.
Besides, footpath repair and drainage construction works have been included in the project, he said adding that other parts under the flyover will be repaired depending on the availability of fresh funds.
Asked about gardening on the medians under of flyovers, he said under the agreement Orion Group, the main constriction contractor of the Flyover, is supposed to build gardens.
Several letters have already sent to Orion Group to build gardens after removing the existing garbage under the flyover but it is yet to respond, said DSCC chief engineer Habibur Rahman.
He said, even the city corporation extended time of the flyover project twice in November last year, but Orion Grop is yet to submit any project closure report.
Asfaq, manager of Corporate Affairs of Orion Group, was not available to make any comment in this regard.
Contacted, architect Iqbal Habib said flyover ground floors should not reduce the capacity of urban connectivity rather facilitate it.
“There can be urban activities, community participatory use and informal business like vending and also green gardening for the availability under any flyover ground floors. Urban planning initiatives with comprehensive and holistic approach are needed in this regard and it should be implemented ensuring appropriate public participation and co-management,” he suggested.
Lack of maintenance, he said, is endangering the structural integrity and longevity of flyovers, he said.
