The concerned authorities sent a letter to the KFAED last November, through the Economic Relations Division seeking Tk 480 crore for the construction of the flyover. KFAED has not yet replied the letter in regard to their decision.

Officials of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the department implementing the construction of the flyover said even if KFAED agree to fund the project the work would not be start before June-July 2006. The construction was supposed to commence this month.

"Even if the KFAED assures the funds soon it will take at least three to four months to get ECNEC approval. Construction can begin only after all procedures are complete," said Haider Ali, project director (PD).

The KFAED funded the feasibility study and designing of the project at a cost of Tk 3.66 crore.

"When an agency funds the feasibility study and designing, it also funds the entire project, so we are awaiting the KFAED's decision to go ahead with construction," said the PD.

He added that if the prospective donor does not approve the design and fail to give a positive reply, the authorities would look for an alternative.

Haider Ali said that all arrangements to start work on the flyover as soon as they receive the funds have been made. He added that the process of inviting international tenders has been completed.

"We have already collected assessments for relocating establishments and service lines of different utility service providing agencies in these areas, so that delays in starting construction will be minimised," said the PD.

The construction of 6.1 km flyover will be completed in three stages. The flyover with eight ramps will take three years to be completed.

The government had initially planned for 2.1 km flyover in this area. Later considering the severe traffic congestion the government decided to construct a joint-line flyover in the Magbazar-Mauchak area from Satrasta to Syed Nazrul Islam avenue (up to Ramna police station) via the Maghbazar intersection, from New Eskaton to Rajarbagh via Maghbazar-Wireless Gate- Mouchak and Malibagh, from Rampura to Shantinagar via Mouchak and Malibagh intersections.

The eight ramps will be situated at Satrasta, New Eskaton, in front of Ramna police station, Rampura, Rajarbagh, Wireless Railgate, Shantinagar and FDC gate.

It is expected that this flyover will ease the traffic gridlock in the Maghbazar, Mouchak, Malibagh areas. It would also reduce the jams at the Maghbazar and Malibagh level crossings.

About traffic problems during the period of construction period the PD said they have planned to cast the segments of the flyover at a distance from the roads and fix these up at night.

"Creating alternate roads for traffic movement would be very difficult as the roads are narrow and the volume of the traffic is large. We hope to have the least possible obstacles on the roads during the construction period," said the PD.

The government took the initiative for a flyover in this area over two years back. It took about a year to complete the feasibility study that ended last July. The government finalised the design, which was sent to funding authorities approval in November.