DNCC's U-loop project trips at start on land acquisition hurdles

he DNCC had put SM Constructions on the job to set up the U-loops on Oct 29 with an aim to ease traffic congestions in the capital.

The contractor says the Roads and Highways Department or RHD has created the obstacles by not clearing the land.

The project director fears that it will not be possible to complete the scheme in time, as they are yet to get the land.

The U-loops will be set up at Saatrasta, Kohinoor Chemical intersection, Mohakhali Bus Terminal, Mohakhali Flyover, Banani Chairmanbarhi, Banani Graveyard, Banani Overpass, Shewrha, Kaola, in front of Uttara RAB-1 offices, and near Jasimuddin Road.

The estimated cost of the project is Tk 248.3 million. The government is providing Tk 198.64 million while the city corporation will fund the remaining Tk 49.66 million.

During site visits on Thursday and Friday, workers were demolishing pavements and other structures at Kohinoor Chemical, Mohakhali Bus Terminal, Banani Chairmanbarhi, Banani Graveyard, Banani Overpass, and Uttara RAB-1 offices points.

SM Constructions Managing Director Hasibur Rahman Shaheen told bdnews24.com they could not start the work in some other areas as the RHD and Land Record and Survey Department have not cleared the land.
"Roads department has some land there. They are creating problems. They don't want to clear the land from the airport to Banani for beautification," he said.
"They are making needless delays. The U-loops will be set up in time where we have got the land. But how will we work at the remaining points?" he asked.

He said people at the Bus Rapid Transit or BRT and Elevated Expressway projects were hindering the work at Uttara and Banani Graveyard points respectively.

The DNCC sent the U-loop project for approval to the Planning Commission by the end of last November. It proposed to start the work by December last year and complete it by June this year, but the commission approved it in March this year.

Later, the Local Government Division approved an extension of the project until June 2018 on the city corporation's wish.

The DNCC said it needed time to remove the structures and acquire the land. However, the estimated cost remained the same.

Project Director Khandaker Mahbub Alam said the RHD was demanding compensation for the 1.36 acres of land.