IPD calls for halt to FDC-Palashi elevated expressway initiative
The IPD believes that traffic congestion at various intersections will increase further due to the construction of an elevated expressway ramp in this route, the institute said in a statement issued today
The Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) has demanded the immediate cancellation of the construction of a Dhaka Elevated Expressway link-road from FDC to Palashi.
The IPD believes that traffic congestion at various intersections will increase further due to the construction of an elevated expressway ramp in this route, the institute said in a statement issued today (14 January).
"The initiative to build a connecting road of the elevated expressway from FDC to Palashi has already destroyed the environment of Hatirjheel Reservoir and Panthakunja Park, as well as the environment of Kathalbagan, Kataban, Nilkhet, Palashi, Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology [Buet] areas. The overall environment and transport system will be in an immeasurable crisis," reads the statement.
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"If this connecting road is constructed, traffic jams will increase drastically at intersections around the SAARC Fountain, Bangla Motor, Kataban, Elephant Road, Nilkhet and Palashi. Due to the increase in vehicle pressure, the overall academic environment and transportation system of Dhaka University and Buet will be in crisis," adds the statement.
Mentioning that the reservoir in the Hatirjheel area has already been filled and thousands of trees in Panthakunja Park have been cut down, the IPD said the project has already violated various environmental laws of the state.
The IPD alleged that the Dhaka Elevated Expressway is one of the mega projects that was taken up by the previous government without environmental and planning impact analysis and public opinion.
"This connecting road was not included in the initial proposal of this project. The people expect the interim government would take the initiative to properly re-evaluate the elevated expressway and road infrastructure projects and take necessary measures with appropriate corrections.
"It is very regretful that the government is silent on this issue despite protests from residents of areas surrounding Panthakunja Park, the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement, and various other organisations and experts related to the environment, planning and development, who demand the cancellation of the construction of the road," the IPD said in the statement.
