First Dhaka City flyover in Mohakhali

The opening of Bangladesh's first flyover, in the capital Dhaka, has been over-shadowed by a row over whether the structure has earthquake protection.

It is hoped that the multi-million dollar bridge, over a kilometre long, will reduce the city's notorious jams.

The project has been delayed because some experts said the huge structure needed more protection against quakes.

Even now some officials say that it is not sufficiently protected and could be in danger from a natural calamity.

This is a city where a one kilometre journey can take up to an hour and where almost no car is unscratched.

Budgetary problems

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia opened the 1.12km flyover - estimated to cost built over $19m - at a ceremony on Thursday.

Construction began in December 2001, and it was due to be completed last June.

The deadline was extended twice to enable the installation of 42 Shock Transmission Units (STUs) which would protect it against earthquakes.

Its hoped the flyover will reduce Dhaka's notorious jams

But budgetary and supply problems meant that the construction team only fitted half the number of STUs.

Now some transport experts say that the flyover could be susceptible to a natural disaster, especially when Bangladesh is considered to be in an earthquake zone.

Officials say the body in charge of monitoring the flyover, the Transport Coordination Board, opposed the opening of the flyover with only half of the STUs installed.

Urgently needed

But the communications ministry says there is no risk in commissioning the flyover without all of them being fitted.

DHAKA'S FIRST FLYOVER 1.2kms long, 17.9m wide Weighs 18,100 tonnes including 4,000 building rods and 30,000 cubic metres of cement Construction involved 400 men working in two shifts for 24 months

They say that the remaining STUs would be inserted "as soon as possible".

The four lane flyover has been built by a Chinese firm commissioned by the Bangladeshi Roads and Highways Department with finance from the World Bank.

Officials say an average of 400 workers were engaged in construction each day, working in two shifts.

They say that the construction is urgently needed because it will ease traffic jams in one of the most congested areas of Dhaka.

Critics say the new bridge will not do much to alleviate jams, because it was designed six years ago when traffic levels were lower.

"Traffic flow in the capital and in the area adjacent to the flyover has increased at an alarming rate over that time," an official of the Transport Coordination Board said.

"The authorities did not take that into consideration and did not bother to build any connecting road that could have helped ease jams on either side of the construction."

Critics say that it could be the prime minister and her staff who are inconvenienced, because jams leading to the flyover are likely to start building up outside her office on Airport Road.