Dhaka North lays foundation for three new bridges over Norai River
Dhaka North Administrator Mohammad Ejaz inaugurated the work today by laying the foundation stone at an event held on Aftabnagar Lakeview Road
The Dhaka North City Corporation has launched the construction of three bridges over the Norai River, also known as the Rampura Canal, to improve communication between the Aftabnagar and Rampura-Banasree areas of the capital.
Dhaka North Administrator Mohammad Ejaz inaugurated the work today (15 September) by laying the foundation stone at an event held on Aftabnagar Lakeview Road.
Two of the bridges will be open to vehicular traffic and one will be reserved for pedestrians.
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The Bangladesh Navy is providing technical support for the project.
Speaking at the ceremony, Administrator Ejaz said the initiative was taken in response to a long-standing demand of residents in Aftabnagar and Banasree.
He noted that the bridges would help manage increasing traffic pressure in Aftabnagar, ease congestion in Rampura via Pragati Sarani, and reduce travel difficulties during the metro rail expansion project.
"The infrastructural development work we are doing is not a favour to the citizens; rather, it is their right. It is our responsibility to realise this right," Ejaz said, adding that Dhaka North continues to address citizens' problems through public hearings despite the absence of councillors.
He urged residents to pay holding taxes regularly to enable faster and more effective service delivery.
He also criticised housing societies as an obstacle to planned urbanisation.
"The big crisis in Dhaka is that we do not maintain the minimum standards in the housing sector. As a result, urbanisation is unplanned," he said.
To address the issue, Dhaka North is preparing a Local Area Action Plan to ensure playgrounds, public spaces, and other civic amenities.
Stressing the role of the private sector in urban development, Ejaz said, "The city has been built mainly because of the rise of the private sector. Therefore, they also have a role to play in protecting the city's equity."
Special guests at the event included Dhaka North Chief Executive Officer Md Mamunul Hasan, Chief Engineer Brig Gen Md Moin Uddin, Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Additional Police Commissioner Md Sarwar, and Commodore Jahangir Adil Samdani, Managing Director of Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited.
Senior city corporation officials, regional executive officers, and residents of Aftabnagar and Banasree also attended.
