The Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover in Dhaka was opened in 2017. Only eight years since then, the flyover’s drainage system has become largely dysfunctional in several sections. Drainage pipes have either become clogged with garbage, burst in places, or gone missing due to theft. As a result, rainwater often accumulates in various parts of the flyover, creating conditions for banyan and pipal trees to take root and grow.

Professor Dr. Shamsul Hoque of the civil engineering department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) told Bonik Barta that banyan trees have been found in at least 12 spots along the Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover. “These banyan trees are the clearest proof that the flyover is not being maintained,” he said. Noting that the plants are causing permanent structural damage, he warned, “Before long, the roots of these banyan trees will cause cracks in the concrete. Water will then seep through those cracks and reach the steel rods inside. Once the rods come into contact with water, they will rust and severely weaken the structure.”

The drainage issue is not unique to the Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover. Similar issues have been found on several other flyovers in both Dhaka and Chattogram. Expansion joints on the Khilgaon and Gulistan-Jatrabari flyovers have shifted, leaving unusually wide gaps. In many cases, railings and road dividers have collapsed. And in some sections, damaged asphalt or concrete remains unrepaired for months. Theft of nuts, bolts, and other components has become common. On top of that, broken lighting has made some flyovers unsafe at night as incidents of mugging and other crimes often occur. Concerns over the safety of elevated structures intensified after a pedestrian was killed on October 26 in Dhaka’s Farmgate area when a bearing pad fell from a metro rail pillar.

Professor Dr. Hoque said that in Bangladesh, flyover maintenance is rarely carried out unless there is a major accident, public complaint, or media report. He said, “After a flyover is built, it needs to be maintained regularly. Like for example, the drainage system should be checked and fixed before the monsoon. The expansion joints also need to be properly adjusted, the bearing pads tested for strength, and the lighting inspected. But we have no such culture in this country. Our culture is to wait until a complaint regarding the flyover is lodged. Highlighted in the media. Only then do the authorities take action.”

There are eight flyovers or similar elevated structures within the Dhaka metropolitan area. These include the Mohakhali overpass, Khilgaon flyover, Bijoy Sarani–Tejgaon Link Road overpass, Banani overpass, Kalshi flyover, Kuril flyover, Gulistan–Jatrabari flyover, and Moghbazar–Mouchak flyover. In addition, there are two U-loops in Rampura and Badda. Dhaka also has one elevated expressway in operation, while construction on another is underway. Outside the city, a flyover has been built in Tongi. Under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project along the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway, seven flyovers have been constructed up to Gazipur. Meanwhile, the port city of Chattogram has six flyovers, including one expressway. During the previous government’s tenure, a flyover was also built in Rajshahi. Beyond the major cities, several flyovers have been constructed along the Dhaka–Tangail–Rangpur, Dhaka–Chattogram, and Dhaka–Mawa–Bhanga highways.

In response to the recent fatal accident in Dhaka’s Farmgate area, where a bearing pad fell from a metro rail pillar, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking an order to assess the quality of bearing pads used in metro rail structures and flyovers across the country. The petition, submitted on October 27, also called for the formation of a committee to examine whether the bearing pads used in these structures meet required quality standards.

Periodic maintenance is mandatory for all flyovers, according to Dr. Md Hadiuzzaman, professor of civil engineering at BUET. Speaking to Bonik Barta, he said, “Periodic maintenance of flyovers is a global practice. Expansion joints can stretch or contract due to temperature variations. This may cause structural defects, cracks, and other forms of damage. These issues need to be addressed at regular intervals through maintenance. But in Bangladesh, this doesn’t happen. Only when a problem becomes visible do authorities react. And by then, the issue often becomes more serious.”

Following the bearing pad accident, the government has initiated a plan to inspect all such infrastructure, including metro rail structures and flyovers, according to Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, the Adviser in charge of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. “We will issue letters to all relevant agencies with specific instructions,” he told Bonik Barta. “A committee will also be formed to monitor whether these agencies are complying with the directives.”