The Views of People about the Effectiveness of Flyover System in

Dhaka city

Introduction

Dhaka is not a simple city. Now it is a metropolitan area with around 15 million

people. Dhaka city is growing day by day. In the near future it will turn into a huge

populated city. The communication and transportation system are very important parts of

a city. A better city should provide high-quality communication and transportation system

to the people of the city.

Now a days traffic jam is very common picture of the Dhaka city. Many

valuable hours are just gone astray for the traffic jam. The government has taken some

step to prevent the traffic congestion and increase the traffic flow. Flyover is one of them

and its a solution of prevent traffic jam and increase traffic flow. The government of

Bangladesh already built two flyovers and another two are on the pipeline.

Dhaka is not growing up with proper planning. Only few parts of Dhaka city

develop with appropriate plan which has sufficient road and communication system.

There is planning about the future traffic demand. So the Dhaka city is already

established without proper road and transportation system. For a well balanced

communication system a city needs 25% area of total area but the Dhaka city has only

8%-10% area of total area. It is now almost impossible to build new roads in Dhaka city.

So the government of Bangladesh builds flyovers to get rid of the problem of traffic jam

and ease the traffic flow.

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 Greater Dhaka is a rapidly growing conurbation serving the needs of over 6

million residents as well as fulfilling the role of Nation Capital to 110 million

Bangladeshis. Its success as the primary city of Bangladesh however, will depend very

much on the efficient delivery of a rage of urban services of which transport is a key

element.

Over the past decade, many observers have commented on the need for various forms of

transport infrastructure development from fly-over to high capacity commuter rail

systems. Whilst a shortage of development funds has held back the implementation of

such capital intensive proposals, a lack of institutional focus has resulted in a gradual

deterioration in the effective utilization of existing transport infrastructure.

Within the Planning Commission an emerging awareness of the need to improve transport

services in Greater Dhaka, but with proper recognition of resource limitations and

competition for these resources from other sectors of the economy. Developing a local

capability to analyze and recommend longer term policies and programs to respond to

transport needs as the urban area grows and matures.

We have two flyovers in the Dhaka city. One is on the Khilgon and another

is on the Mahakhali. November 4, 2004 had been a D-day for some quarters of people

engaged in administering the country of ours! Mahakhali flyover project was planned to

be constructed back in 1994 after due feasibility study undertaken between 1992-1994

with UNDP financing by Dhaka Integrated Transport Study (DTS). As informed the study

report had suggested construction of two flyovers, one at the present Mahakhali and the

second one at Khilgon. Nobody knows why the second one was dropped. Finally, the

Mahakhali Flyover (overpass?) construction work was started back in December 2001 by

the present government and was opened for public thoroughfare after almost 3 years. As

2
claimed by the concerned Ministry, several attempts were made in the past to complete

the project much earlier. But due to usual snag in the overall management this could be

done on Nov 4 on the insistence of our Ministry. It remains to be seen the actual utility of

the very project as far as the removal of traffic congestion in Dhaka city in general and in

that area in particular. The apprehension of common people on the "Absolute

Contribution" of this project towards solving acute traffic snarl-up in the area of Banani,

Mahakhali and Tejgaon area has come true within the last 5 weeks time. There is neither

any outlet over the whole length of the Flyover or any inlet connecting any of the

existing roads around. The Marathon run of 1.1 km as well as a very good overhead

sprint track for a good running vehicle (runner) at a cost of Taka 113 crore is virtually a

big tragedy of this poor country of ours. Possibly a completely new 4-track surface road

of "considerable" length could be constructed utilizing the same capital outlay spent on

this prestigious project of Dhaka metropolitan city. The future projects, for effective

utilization of this flyover should be well thought of and executed accordingly since traffic

volume is expected to increase in this ever growing populous city. The extent of pollution

and coherent effects resulting thereof should also be properly enumerated for safety and

health reasons. With the closure of trafficking through the Cantonment area, the situation

has worsened. Only limited thoroughfare is being allowed after due security check. It is

not comprehensible to comers as to why restriction has been imposed in moving through

the Cantonment roads widened for public use using tax-payers money. Further, the

overall cost of wastage of time due to traffic congestion cannot be overemphasized.

Introduction of innumerable big and small size buses in the city roads, without any proper

bus-stand, have aggravated the mobility of the citizens of Dhaka. It is well known to the

town planners the importance of having at least 20-25% of the land surface area for

3
public communication system in all newly-built cities and everyone is following that

norm. But Alas (!) we are lagging very much on that point also. Instead our government

is spending enormous tax-payers money on projects not beneficial to the common people.

It is gathered that the cost of the project was revised twice! The final amount of Taka 113

crore is simply an unreasonable figure and should be branded as an unwise act on the part

of the concerned personnel responsible for executing the project. The Parliamentary

Standing Committee is said to have undertaken a full-fledged investigation into

the financial irregularities involving the construction of the project. Someone must

answer for it since it involves tax-payers interests. We expect the report to be made public

and possibly this could be an eye-opener for any new project of similar nature in future. It

would be worthwhile to re-emphasize on the economy of construction, effective

utilization, contribution to national economy etc while planning/constructing any new

flyover/overpass in Dhaka city. There are many crossings where we need to have alter-

native roads either over ground or underground in order to ease traffic jams. The

indication by our Prime Minister on underground rail system in the city to facilitate

movement of the commuters is very encouraging and heartening to the city dwellers.

Only two flyovers are not sufficient for this big city communication system. We need to

build more flyovers in the busy intersection and make some correction of the present

flyover system. We need to plan well and implement quickly and proper maintenance

also. If we want to see a well planned city then we should build many flyovers in our

busy road intersection. This is used to increase the traffic flow and ease the traffic

congestion.

4
 Research Questions

In my research, I plan to find out peoples opinion about our Dhaka city flyover

system. And, is the current system of flyover in Dhaka city is effective enough to stop

traffic congestion and increase traffic flow.

So, I tried to address the following research questions concerning my topic-

Do we need flyovers in Dhaka city?

Do you think that current flyovers can meet our future traffic demand?

How is the current flyover in Dhaka city affecting the traffic system?

What do you think about the current flyover system in Dhaka city?

How does it compare with other countries flyover system?

How do you take this new system?

Do you think that we have a problem of proper planning about the flyovers?

Do you think that the Bangladesh Government is taking proper step to build

flyovers?

Do you think our government should adopt the flyover system of other developed

countries, considering the economical condition of Bangladesh?

Do you think the flyover is enough to stop the traffic jam?

Do you think that the private organization should come to build flyover?

5
 Hypothesis

I think most of the people think that, flyovers in Dhaka city is not working well.

This is a new communication structure for us and we need quick preparation program

for communication system to get rid from the traffic congestion and increase the traffic

flow. Of course, the communication and traffic problems of Dhaka city can not be

solved by a single project such as flyover. Flyovers are helping us to reduce the

congestion at crowded intersection. But without a comprehensive program those new

infrastructure is simply fly over the intersection from one sea of congestion to

congestion.

6
 Research Methodology

For my primary research, I conducted a survey among some

people representing the general public. Among those people there were drivers and

regular people who use those flyovers frequently. In my primary research I used 13

survey questions to get the information about those new structures of communication. I

tried to find out whether the current flyover system of Bangladesh is effective enough to

control traffic flow of Dhaka city. Connecting to this topic, I tried to find out the factors

that affect the system negatively and what should be done to improve the flyover system.

For the common people those structures are new and they need time to use those

properly. I also tried to find out the government and private efforts to build such new

communication structures to ease the traffic flow.

For the secondary research, I used the resources in the library and in the reference

room of North South University. I searched the government websites to collect data for

my research. I also searched the web to find sources and articles about Dhaka city

flyovers, and issues related to this structure and the situation when there were no flyovers

in Dhaka city and the situation of present time. In my secondary research I found some

impressive information that our flyovers have less protection against the natural disaster

such as earth quake. Those are not well planned and it took several years to

implementation after planning. In the several years the traffic flow increased at an

immense rate and we need more flyovers in Dhaka city to control the traffic flow. We

need government and private efforts to build such structure.

7
 Data Presentation and Analysis

There is no difference between Dhaka city and any other cities of the world when

it comes to communication system. In all the cases communication is very important key

element of a city. But do we need flyover, and current flyovers can meet future traffic

demand and how we should plan and implement it, and what about our government steps

to build flyovers, these are some of the question which has many opinions of people. That

is why I tried to survey among twenty respondents with thirteen important questions and

found out what they thought about the flyovers system of Dhaka city. Below I tried to

interpret and analyze those thirteen questions with relevant charts and graphs.

1. Have you ever on the flyover in Dhaka city?

Options Numbers Percentage

of

Responses
Yes only once. 0 0%
Yes, regularly. 13 65%
No, never got the chance. 3 15%
Want to but didnt have any 4 20%

chance.

8
Interpretation: 65% (majority) of my total respondents said that they used flyovers

regularly. 20% said that they want to but didnt have any chance. 15% said that no, never

got the chance. Nobody answered yes only once.

Analysis: From the above graph we can see that majority of the respondents think that,

we have two flyovers on the two part of our city and many people used to live that place.

So the majority of my respondent said that they use the structure regularly. Some people

want to but didnt have any chance because they dont use the road where the flyovers are

or there is no flyover on their regular way. Some people said that they never got the

chance because they dont used to live in Dhaka city. Flyovers constructed only in Dhaka

city not the others parts or cities of Bangladesh.

2. Do we need flyovers in Dhaka city?

Options Numbers of Percentage

Responses
Yes. 4 20%
Yes, in a great extent. 16 80%
The present system is fine. 0 0%
No. 0 0%

9
Interpretation: 80 %( majority) people said that yes we need flyover in a great extent.

20 % said only yes. Nobody said no and the present system is fine.

Analysis: From the above graph we can realize the people thought. They are very

cautious about the present traffic demand. The majority people said that we need flyovers

in a great extent. There great extent means the number of flyovers in the busy

intersection. It also means that to increase the traffic flow and avoid traffic congestion we

need to build many flyovers. There is no people said that we do not need flyovers. It

means that everybody wants a congestion free Dhaka city.

3. Do you think that current flyovers can meet our future traffic demand?

Options Numbers Percentage

of

Responses
Yes. 2 10%
Yes but need some change. 3 15%
No, we need immense change. 15 75%
No. 0 0%

10
Interpretation: 75% of my total respondents said that we immense change to meet our

future traffic demand. 15% of my total respondents said that yes current system with little

change can meet the future demand. Only 10% said that yes current system can. There is

nobody said no.

Analysis: From the above graph we can easily assume that the current flyover system is

not enough to meet the future traffic demand. The majority people said that current

system could not meet the future traffic demand. We need immense change to meet the

future traffic demand. Here immense change means we need to build flyovers in every

busy intersection. Less amount people said that current system with little change could be

effective.

11
4. How is the current flyover in Dhaka city affecting the traffic system?

Options Numbers Percentage

of

Yes in a large amount.
Yes, in a small amount.
Yes in a negative way.
Too little to be noticed.
Responses
3 15%
9 45%
0 0%
8 40%

Interpretation: 45% (majority) said that our flyover affect traffic system in a

small amount. 40% people of my respondents said that the affect is too little to be

noticed. Only 15% people said that yes in a large amount and no people said that

in a negative way.

Analysis: From the above graph, I can easily say that we have two flyovers on the

two different parts of the Dhaka city. Those two flyovers are not well enough to

12
affect the whole Dhaka city traffic system. There is some affect and the affect is

little and in another way the affect is too little to be noticed.

5. What do you think about the current flyover system in Dhaka city?

Options Numbers Percentage

of

Responses
Good. 3 15%
Bad. 3 15%
Ok, but need changes. 10 50%1
Not effective. 4 20%

Interpretation: There is 62% (majority) people said that the current flyover

system is ok but need changes. 19% people said that its good also 19%

people said that its bad. Nobody said that its not effective.

Analysis: From the above graph I can say that the people think that the

flyovers are ok but with changes of time we need change with our flyover

13
 system. We need to plan with our traffic demand which is increasing day by

day.

6. How do you compare our flyover system with other countries flyover system?

Options Numbers Percentage

of

Responses
Huge difference. 8 40%
We are just in a primary stage. 10 50%
Have no idea. 2 10%

Interpretation: 50% (majority) said that we are in a primary stage of flyover

system. 40% people said that there is huge difference with the other countries fly

over system. Only 10% people said that they have no idea.

Analysis: From the above graph I can say that this not the appropriate time to

compare other countries flyover system with our flyover system because we are

just in primary stage. We are just beginning the new era of communication

14
structure. Technologically other countries flyovers are very advanced and their

flyovers are very well planned. With this point of view there is huge difference.

7. How do you take this new system?

Options Numbers of Percentage

Responses
Its helpful. 3 15%
It has lot to corrections. 0 0%
We need many like this. 3 15%
All of the above. 14 70%

Interpretation: 70% (majority) said that its helpful, we need many like this, and

it has lot to correction. 15% people said that its helpful. Another 15% said that

we need many like this. And nobody said it needs correction.

Analysis: From the above graph I can easily say that our flyovers are helpful to

some extant. It needs corrections and we need many like this in our busy road

15
intersection. There are only two flyovers in the big Dhaka city and this is not

sufficient for the whole Dhaka city traffic flow.

8. Do you think that we have a problem of proper planning about flyovers?

Options Numbers of Percentage

Responses
Yes, we are new. 4 20%
Yes we need good planner. 2 10%
We need quick implementation. 3 15%
Both ( II + III ) 11 55%

Interpretation: 55% (majority) people said that we need both good plan and

quick implementation. 20% people said that we are new. 15% people said that we

need quick implementation. And only 10% people said that need good planner.

Analysis: From the above graph I clearly say that we need good plan and quick

implementation. Because if we just make a good plan and sit like a duck then the

real goal of the project will be impossible to achieve. So we need to implement

our plan quickly to meet the traffic demand. Although we are new we may have

some problem.

16
9. Which flyover is effective?

Options Numbers of Percentage

Responses
Mohakhali flyover. 3 15%
Khilgon flyover. 9 45%
Both. 4 20%
No one. 4 20%
No idea. 0 0%

Interpretation: There is 45% (majority) people said that Khilgon flyover is

effective. 20% people said that both Mahakhali and Khilgon flyover is effective.

17
Another 20% said that no one. Only 15% people said that Mahakhali flyover is

effective.

Analysis: From the above graph I can confidently say that Khilgon flyover is

effective because it has a single loop and three landing part. It is connected with

three different road intersections. On the other hand Mahakhali flyover has not

any loop and it is connected with two different road intersections. Some people

said that both are effective.

10. Do you think that the Bangladesh Government is taking proper step to build

flyover?

Numbers of Percentage

Responses
Yes, a lot. 0 0%
Yes, but not enough. 16 80%
No 4 20%

18
Interpretation: On the graph 80% (majority) people said that our government

taking step to build flyovers but that is not enough. Only 20% (minority) said that

the government taking no step to build flyovers.

Analysis: From the above graph I can clearly say that our government taking step

there is no doubt but their step is not enough for us. Another way I can say their

step is not effective. Only few people said that the government taking no proper

step to build flyover.

11. Do you think our government should adopt the flyover system of other

developed countries, considering the economical condition of Bangladesh?

Options Numbers of Percentage

Responses
Yes, obviously. 5 25%
Yes, to some extant. 7 35%
No, cant afford. 8 40%
Not at all. 0 0%

19
 Interpretation: 40% people said that our government can not afford other

developed countries flyover system. 35% people said that we need to

adapt to some extant. 25% said obviously we need to adopt. No one said

no.

Analysis: From the above graph I can say that our government can not afford developed

countries flyover system because we are developing country and our economical

condition are not sound like the developed country. We can adapt not fully but to some

extant because we have huge traffic demand and we have to increase traffic flow.

12. Do you think the flyover is enough to stop the traffic jam?

Options Numbers of Percentage

Responses
Yes, undoubtedly. 3 15%
Yes but not always. 4 20%
Only flyover can not. 13 65%
Not at all. 0 0%

20
Interpretation: 65% (majority) people said that only flyover can not stop the

traffic jam. 20% people said that yes but not always. 15% people said that yes.

And 0% answered not at all.

Analysis: From the above graph I can undoubtedly say that only flyover can not

stop the traffic jam because there are many things involved with traffic flow. Such

as vehicles, drivers, traffic law, and signal system. Sometime flyovers can

increase the traffic flow but any one do any mistake then the flyovers are unable

to stop the traffic jam.

21
13. Do you think that the private organization should come to build flyover?

Options Numbers of Percentage

Responses
Yes. 6 30%
No, only government. 0 0%
Both should. 5 25%
In a joint venture. 9 45%

Interpretation: On the graph 45% (majority) people said that our private organization

and government should come with joint venture to build flyovers. 30% people said that

yes private organization should come to build flyovers. 25% people said that both should

come. And no one said only government.

Analysis: From the above graph I can say that building flyovers are huge project and we

should build it with the form of joint venture because it will help us to build flyovers

easily. Only government can not always effective enough to build flyovers because its

not a work of one day. Government can deliver the money and private organization can

work efficiently and quickly. There is an advantage in a form of joint venture that every

share the work and both are responsible for the work.

22
 Summery of Research Findings

After conducting my primary and secondary research I have reached the

following conclusions:

Most of the people think that our flyover systems are new to us and we are in the

primary stage. So we may have some problem with this new system. We may have some

lacking in the plan also we may need more time to implement the flyovers system but

with time we will recover it very quickly.

Our current flyover systems are not working properly and there is a major need

for a change in our current flyover systems in Dhaka city. There is no doubt that we need

flyovers to ease the traffic congestion and increase traffic flow. I can clearly say that we

need gigantic change to meet the future traffic demand. We have only two flyovers and

those are not affecting the Dhaka city traffic flow. Most of the people want effective

flyover system in Dhaka city. Most of my respondent said that although there is huge

difference but this is not the time to compare our flyovers with other countries flyover

system. Most people think that our government and private organization should come to a

form of joint venture to build flyovers.

I thought that, regular people would think that flyover system does not work at all

to stop traffic congestion and increase traffic flow. But my responded thought that it does

affect the communication system of Dhaka city. But it depends on the people who use the

flyovers. I also predicted that people think that the government should take more step to

build effective flyovers which will increase the traffic flow and ease the traffic

congestion.

23
 Conclusion

Finally, I can say that the flyovers are new communication infrastructure for the

people of Dhaka city. It is used to ease the traffic congestion and increase traffic flow of

Dhaka city. Our flyover system is not effective enough to increase the flow of traffic. We

need to build more flyovers in the busy intersection. We need to plan properly to meet the

up coming traffic demand. Dhaka city is not a simple city, it has more than 10 million

people and the authority should provide better communication system to their people. The

governments taking some steps to build flyovers but the steps are not enough to build

flyovers swiftly. They waste a lot of time to implement flyovers and in the mean time the

traffic flow increased immensely and we could not achieve the main objective of the

project. So we need to plan for the future and implement quickly to meet the expected

traffic demand. There is another thing to say that the only flyovers can not ease the traffic

because there are many things related with traffic flow, such as drivers, signal systems,

and traffic rules. We need a co-ordinate communication system to increase traffic flow.

24
 Recommendations and Suggestions

I suggest the government should adopt a new flyover system. They need to invest

more money in this segment. There should be a systematic way for the government to

evaluate the needs of the future traffic require and to allocate money for the flyovers.

They should emphasis more on effectiveness of flyover less on building them in here and

there.

Government should make their authority in charge well informed about the

upcoming traffic demand so that they can take care of them. Planners should be well

trained when they are planning to build flyovers also they need to implement the plan

quickly.

The government should give opportunity to the private organization to build

flyovers and if possible then they should build flyovers in a form of joint venture. The

government can give them financial and other facilities to the private organization to

come forward and build flyovers.

In the overall process, the main goal should be the increase the flow of traffic and

meet the expected traffic demand.

25
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< http://www.city communication.org/visiting.htm >

Rahman, Rakib. Dhaka city flyover Daily Star. Com. 17Nov. 2003.

<http:// www. Daily Star. Com/news/Dhaka city/ html 71/ bone-101459.

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Smit, Dirk van Zyl. Re: University of Toronto Transportation Journal 27 Mar. 2002.

<http://www.ptujournals.com/transport/utlj/3199/483_review_smit.ht

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