Rajshahi's Tk540-cr flyovers: Was the project necessary at all?

Rajshahi City Corporation is constructing five flyovers at four points in the city for Tk540 crore, raising concerns about the waste of resources due to a lack of proper planning.

The construction of these flyovers began at the end of last year, with 20-25% of the work completed and the projects scheduled to continue until December 2025, according to city corporation sources.

However, skepticism surrounds the necessity and planning of these constructions. Experts, civil society members, and city residents have voiced dissent, organising protests to denounce the additional flyovers as "unnecessary" and "poorly planned".

Many believe the funds allocated could have been better utilised elsewhere, particularly since the city has not historically faced significant traffic congestion.

The city corporation clarified that these flyovers are being built at railway crossings to address anticipated traffic congestion in the next 50 to 100 years, arguing that delaying construction would lead to increased costs and difficulties in the future.

However, urban planners and residents are skeptical, noting that traffic congestion is not a significant issue in Rajshahi. They have been questioning the practicality of such an investment.

The flyover under construction at Hargram Natunpara City Bypass Road-Rail Crossing involves an estimated cost of Tk86.19 crore, with 40% of the work completed. The Bandhgate rail crossing flyover is estimated at Tk97.70 crore and is 35% complete, while the Bilshimla rail crossing flyover, costing Tk87.30 crore, has undergone 32% completion. The flyover at Shaheed AHM Kamaruzzaman Square rail crossing is estimated at Tk270.51 crore, with only 10% of the work completed.

Professor Mst Ilme Faridatul, head of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, stated, "The locations are unnecessarily selected, as the city currently has no traffic issues and is unlikely to face such problems in the future, making the project wasteful and socially problematic."

She further noted that traffic congestion often arises in areas with heavy industrialisation and extensive land use, which is not a concern in Rajshahi.

"Before constructing infrastructure, we must consider the social and economic impacts of these projects," she added.

Ilme Faridatul emphasised that if a project proves to be of no use for the public, it should be abandoned. Currently, 30% of the work remains unfinished, so it is essential for the ministry to seek expert opinions rather than deciding unilaterally.

Shamiul Alim Shaon, president of Youth Action for Social Change (YASC), said, "Rajshahi is a small town. No heavy vehicles like buses or trucks move there; there is no traffic congestion. The construction of this flyover is thus illogical."

He urged the government to reconsider and stop the flyover construction.

Md Shahidul Islam, Rajshahi region coordinator of Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (Barcik), expressed concerns about the project's lack of public input. "This project doesn't reflect the public interest. There's no clarity on whether an environmental survey was conducted."

He stressed the need for a proper investigation into the project's planning and accountability.

According to city corporation sources, the flyovers at Rajshahi Court Station Rail Crossing and Barnali Intersection Rail Crossing have been abandoned due to their unnecessary nature.

Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, the newly appointed administrator of Rajshahi City Corporation, said there is no possibility of doing away with the currently implemented projects due to the investment of state funds. While the flyovers may seem unnecessary now, they will become valuable as the city's population grows. "We have cancelled those deemed unnecessary," he noted.

Earlier, the Rajshahi Development Authority constructed a 5km road with an 810-metre flyover at a cost of Tk207 crore aimed at alleviating traffic congestion by diverting long-distance buses away from the city. However, 10 months after its opening to the public, the 2.25km stretch from Kazla Ruet Chattar to Meherchandi, including the flyover, remains largely deserted. ***