People crossing road near Mohakhali flyover risking their lives.Photo: STAR

The ramps of Mohakhali and Khilgaon flyovers in the city have become major accident spots due to absence of safe way for pedestrians to cross the road.
Drivers of speeding vehicles often lose control over the steering at the exit of Mohakhali flyover near Chairmanbari, posing a risk to pedestrians. Minor accidents involving pedestrians crossing the road take place at this place almost every day.
The nearest footbridge is located at Kakoli, more than one kilometre from the flyover end, forcing pedestrians, especially thousands of female workers of readymade garment factories in the area, to cross the road risking their lives.
Besides, special markings and traffic signs at the spot are gradually fading away. There is hardly any warning by the traffic police while reckless driving is on.
Md Hasan, salesperson of Amir Ali Traders near Mohakhali flyover, said, “We have serious problem while crossing the road. The nearest foot-over bridge is far away while the road dividers have iron fences on them. We can only cross the road at the exit of the flyover where most vehicles pass at a very high speed.”
Abdullah-Al-Mahmud, sales manager, New Pacific Aluminium Enterprise at Amtoli, Mohakhali said, “There should be a mechanism to force vehicles to slow down at the flyover exit. Every day from my store I see minor accidents taking place. On Sunday a taxicab slammed into the railings, shattering all its glasses.”
“The authorities remain silent as no major accidents took place here so far,” he added. “But I must say, there should be precautionary measures.”
At least three people were killed on the night of December 31 last when a car lost control over the steering just after crossing Mohakhali flyover.
A vegetable trader was killed and five others were injured when a truck turned upside down on the flyover in January 2007.
Mohakhali flyover, the first of its kind in the country, was opened to public in November 2004. The 1.12 km long and 17.9 metre wide flyover cost around Tk 114 crore to build with financial assistance from the World Bank.
The Khilgaon flyover ramp leading to Atish Dipankar Road, Bashabo is risky too.
In November 2008, a female employee of an insurance company was killed on Khilgaon flyover after falling off a motorbike on the ramp.
A 42-year-old man suffered hand and knee injuries when a minibus crashed into his rickshaw on the Malibagh thoroughfare near the flyover in January 2007.
About a week later, a 25-year-old man suffered back injuries when a minibus bumped into his motorcycle near Malibagh bazaar.
An elderly man was critically injured in another accident also in January 2007.
Majority of these victims were hit by speeding vehicles near the street stretching from Khilgaon flyover to Malibagh level crossing.
Khilgaon flyover connects areas including Rajarbagh, Malibagh, Shahjahanpur, Khilgaon, Goran, Bashabo and Sabujbagh.
The flyover was opened in March 2005 at busy Khilgaon road-rail intersection. It is a 1.9-kilometre-long and 14-metre wide flyover constructed at a cost of Tk 81.75 crore.
Prof Md Shamsul Hoque, director of Accident Research Centre, Buet, explained that while descending from flyover it is obvious that the speed will go up. It might create obstructed vision, preventing the drivers from seeing the special signs or crossing people.
“Combined with this factor, the level of unawareness among our drivers and pedestrians increases the number of accidents,” he said.
“At Khilgaon flyover the touchdown point is too close to the side road. Vehicles speeding from the flyover and the side road might hit one another as there is not enough space between them,” he said.
Prof Hoque also mentioned that in Bangladesh most vehicles do not have fitness while trucks and buses always tend to overload, which can become dangerous on flyovers.
“The roads near flyovers are also not suitable for pedestrians. There should have been footbridges nearby. It is also urgent to install special marking signs with retro-reflective paints and 'tiger's tail' sign at flyover junctions,” he pointed out.