Shaheed Ahsanullah Master Flyover in Tongi opens to traffic yesterday. Photo: Rashed Shumon

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday formally inaugurated Shaheed Ahsanullah Master Flyover on the southern side of Tongi Rail Station.
The three-lane flyover, constructed at a cost of Tk 23.75 crore, was named after former lawmaker Ahsanullah Master who was killed by terrorists in 2004.
With the opening of the flyover, traffic jam in Dhaka and Tongi will reduce to a great extent.
Now vehicles of Dhaka and North Bengal would be able to go to Narsingdi, Bhairab, Sylhet and Kishoreganj via Tongi by avoiding severe traffic congestion in Dhaka city and Kanchpur bridge.
There is 7.5-metre space in each lane of the two-lane flyover. The width of its footpath is six metres and the number of spans is 14.
Roads and Highways Department sources said the construction work of the flyover began on March 16 in 2006 and Tk 18.33 crore was earmarked to complete it on March 15 in 2008.
In the preliminary design, the length of the flyover was 42.68 metres and the link roads on both sides were 450 metres. But the local people started movement demanding changes in its design, as there was no arrangement for movement of the people under the flyover.
In the face of the movement, the work of the flyover stopped within 7-8 months. Later in June 2007, the work of the flyover resumed as per the revised design.
In the changed design, its length was raised to 350 metres and the link roads reduced to 200 metres, while the cost increased to Tk 23.75 crore. The time fixed to complete the flyover was in March this year.
An additional amount of about Tk 5.50 crore was spent due to changes in design and increase in time of construction work, the sources said.
Ahsanullah Master, who was elected parliament member from the area in 1996 and 2001, placed his demand at Jatiya Sangsad on different occasions for constructing a flyover near Tongi Rail Station.
In recognition of his contribution, the PM directed the authorities concerned to name the flyover after him.