Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has opened the No. 2 steel footbridge in the Banasree-Aftabnagar area to public movement, aiming to improve connectivity and ensure safer travel for pedestrians, particularly students.
DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan formally inaugurated the bridge on Wednesday. He said the project was implemented under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ease communication and improve the quality of life for residents of Banasree and Aftabnagar.
The administrator said residents had demanded three bridges in the area to improve connectivity, facilitate safe travel to schools and colleges, and reduce traffic congestion. Following the Prime Minister’s direction, DNCC undertook the construction of the three bridges.
He said the construction of the other two bridges was delayed because heavy equipment had to be transported from abroad. The No. 2 steel bridge was therefore constructed using locally available equipment to ensure pedestrian movement and safe access to educational institutions.
According to DNCC, the three bridges are being constructed under a project costing Tk 89.54 crore, funded by the city corporation and supervised by the Bangladesh Navy. The No. 1 bridge near Ideal School is 15.40 metres wide and 38 metres long, while the No. 2 bridge near Farazi Hospital is 3.80 metres wide and 42 metres long. The No. 3 bridge near Meradia Bazar is 15.40 metres wide and 49 metres long.
Khan said the remaining two bridges would be completed as soon as possible. He added that two permanent bridges are also being constructed beside the footbridge with support from the Bangladesh Army. The bridges will allow heavy vehicles to move and provide alternative connectivity during traffic congestion and the ongoing MRT project.
He urged local residents to help maintain the newly opened bridge and refrain from dumping waste into the nearby canal. DNCC, he said, would undertake initiatives to clean and renovate the canal.
If properly cleaned, renovated and maintained, the canal and surrounding area could contribute to the development of local tourism, he added.
Reiterating DNCC’s commitment to a “Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka”, the administrator said planting trees alone would not be enough to make the city attractive and that maintaining cleanliness was the first requirement. He also urged residents of Aftabnagar and Banasree to cooperate with DNCC’s development and cleanliness initiatives and pay their taxes regularly.
DNCC Chief Executive Officer Md Asaduzzaman chaired the inauguration programme. Chief Engineer Brigadier General Md Rakib Hasan, Chief Waste Management Officer Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes, the project director and local leaders were also present.
