The government on Saturday opened the long-awaited Titipara underpass to traffic, easing travel for thousands of commuters in the capital after an extended closure.
Special assistant to chief adviser of the Ministry of Railways Sheikh Moinuddin inspected the underpass and ordered it to be opened for public use, said Bangladesh Railways director general Md Afzal Hossain.
He said, 鈥楾he underpass connects Atish Dipankar Road on one side and Kamalapur Outer Circular Road on the other, replacing the previous Titipara level crossing.鈥�
The level crossing was converted into an underpass to ensure smooth movement of both trains and road vehicles, Afzal said.
The conversion project, implemented under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, took nearly two years to complete. During construction, the route remained closed, causing significant inconvenience to office-goers, students and residents traveling between different parts of Dhaka.
The newly opened underpass, constructed 11 metres below the main road, is about 350 metres long and 35 metres wide.
It features six lanes, of which four lanes are designated for motor vehicles, allowing the movement of vehicles up to five metres in height. There are also separate lanes for rickshaws and bicycles on both sides and wide sidewalks for pedestrians.
鈥榃ith this structure, trains will now move above while other vehicles pass below without any hindrance,鈥� he said, adding that the underpass had been designed not only for functionality but also for aesthetics.
鈥楻oad markings, flowering trees along the median and lampposts on both sides have enhanced its beauty,鈥� he noted.
To prevent waterlogging during the rainy season, a modern drainage system and a dedicated rainwater pump well have been installed. 鈥楢ll rainwater from the underpass will automatically flow into the well, where four 75-kilowatt pumps have been set up to ensure smooth drainage,鈥� Afzal said.
The construction cost of the Titipara underpass was approximately Tk 90 crore, he added.