The communication ministry has planned to turn Azimpur-Gabtoli route into a signal-free road at a cost of Tk 750 crore for easing traffic congestions in the city’s western fringe, ministry officials said.
It has already drawn the layout of a project with the help of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology to upgrade about two dozens of intersections along the 14-km road with ‘U’ and the ‘loop’ shaped overpasses.
Besides, tunnels for movement of vehicles would be built at Russel Square and at Sangsad Bhaban for uninterrupted ride between Azimpur and Gabtoli.
Communication ministry officials expected that a vehicle could reach Gabtali from Azimpur in less than 30 minutes with the planned upgradation.
Roads and highways department would implement the project, the name of which has been proposed to be ‘Bangabandhu Memorial Corridor’.
When completed, it would help to curb traffic congestions in the western part of the capital where people are facing immense suffering because of chronic traffic jams at places like New Market, Elephant Road, Kalabagan, Asad Gate and Shymoli.
It would be a good news if the government can build such transport facility on Azimpur-Gabtali road, said Sirajul Islam, a businessman of Gausia market.
Islam, who lives in Mirpur, said traffic jam often forced him to reach his place of work in more than three hours.
Experts, however, suggested for checking unbridled development of shopping malls and business establishments having no parking facilities along the road to reduce pressure on it.
They also urged the authorities to check the high growth of educational institutions and food shops in Dhanmondi residential area which compounded traffic jams.
Without checking those the upgradation of the road would not bring about dividend in curbing traffic congestion, said former communication ministry secretary Mahbubur Rahman.
Last week, a review meeting on the proposed project was held in the ministry with communications minister Abul Hossain in the chair. The meeting decided to seek opinions from professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury about the design and other technical issues.
Traffic congestion in the city and its adverse impacts on everyday life became a major cause of concerns for the government which has already taken some other plans like construction of flyover from Sanir Akhra to Palashi.
The government is also seriously planning to introduce metro rail and circular waterways to address nagging problem of traffic congestion in the city.
