Govt aims to ensure better transport services in Dhaka: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said initiatives have been taken to construct underground rail lines, elevated ring roads and waterways around the capital, aiming to ensure better transport services.

"We've already started a feasibility study to construct the rail lines," she said.

The prime minister said this at a programme after inaugurating the Badda U-loop (North U-loop) under Hatirjheel integrated development project.

Badda U-loop (North U-loop) under Hatirjheel integrated development project. Photo: PID

She also said there is a plan to construct elevated ring roads around the capital city to ease communications.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that the government will go for dredging the four rivers surrounding the capital so that the city dwellers could get a better commuting service through waterways. "We'll dredge the rivers to restore their navigability."

She also said the small bridges over these rivers that are hindering the plying of water vessels will be removed through constructing new bridges which will not create obstacles. "We're taking a plan for that, too."

Talking about the Hatirjheel project, the Prime Minister said the government will create a link canal with the project for linking it with rivers.

"If we excavate the canal, the water of the Hatijheel project will remain better. Another plan to that end is also underway," she said.

Hasina said the previous governments constructed box culverts over the canal and that decision was just a blunder. "As a result, the waterlogging in Dhaka is increasing day by day... constructing box culverts is not a solution."

She said if the Awami League is voted to power in the next election, it will demolish the box culverts to open the canals, not only in Dhaka city, but also across the country.

"We'll construct elevated roads over the canals, if needed. The canals will remain open...it'll be helpful to remove the rainwater quickly," she said.

The prime minister said the government will renovate all the canals, beels, rivers, drains and ponds across the country. "We've already taken projects for this."

She said the aim of these projects is to make the country more environment-friendly one so that the people of the country could get an atmosphere to live healthier life.

Hasina mentioned that traffic jam is not a unique matter in big cities, and the government has taken numerous steps to reduce traffic congestions in capital Dhaka.

She reiterated that the government will introduce high speed or bullet trains from Dhaka to Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Barisal-Paira and Kolkata.

The prime minister said the government has been able to carry out marked development across the country as people cast their votes in favour of Awami League for two consecutive times.

"As we're in power for two consecutive terms, we've been able to complete our development projects," she said.

Housing and Public Works Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Local MP AKM Rahmat Ullah, Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed and Hatirjheel Integrated Development Project Director Maj Gen Abu Sayeed Mohammad Masud also spoke.