Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover likely to be opened to traffic mid-October

The final phase of construction work of Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover is complete and the much-awaited overpass is set to be opened to traffic in mid-October. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is to officially inaugurate the 8.7km-long flyover; however, three sections of the flyover is already in operation. “The construction work is already complete and we will announce the opening date once we get the schedule of the prime minister,” said Najmul Alam, project director of the flyover. The Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover was a cause for widespread criticism for two consecutive cost hikes and its faulty design: it was mistakenly designed for left-hand driving whereas, in Bangladesh, roads are made for right-hand driving. Moreover, this is the first flyover which will have traffic signals at the Mouchak and Malibagh intersection whereas such infrastructures are generally built to allow uninterrupted traffic flow. Previously, the first two phases of the flyover was opened to traffic on March 2016 and September 2016 respectively. The estimated cost of the flyover was Tk343.70 crore when the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved it in 2011. The project has missed a couple of deadlines and eventually the cost skyrocketed to Tk1,218.89 crore.