Dhaka North City Corporation has taken this initiative to make Dhaka’s Mohakhali flyover colorful.
Once covered in posters, and the scene was painful to the eyes; Now the responsibility is to turn away from there.
Capital’s Mahakhali flyover is getting a new look. Various motifs of native culture are being displayed in the concrete structure. So far 70 percent of the work has been completed. It will take another two months to complete the entire work.
Dhaka North City Corporation has taken the initiative of this aesthetic work. Earlier, such paintings were also painted on the Mouchak-Mogbazar flyover, which garnered great appreciation from the city dwellers.
Under the Mohakhali flyover, I spoke to a passerby, Tahsen Ahmed. In his opinion, such paintings can change the world of people’s thoughts.
“Now the place is coming back to life. If the other walls of the city can be decorated like this, then this city will look more alive. Looking at the paintings gives peace to the eyes even for a moment. I want to look a little longer.”
In December last year, under the initiative of Dhaka North City Corporation, the painting work started on Mohakhali flyover with the cooperation of Berger Paints Bangladesh. He is working as the head of artist team for ProAct Advertising and Communications. Mahbub Hawladar.
The entire flyover will be completed by June, he told bdnews24.com, “The best colors are being used here. This color is guaranteed for seven years. We have tried to increase the durability of the color and expect it to last for years. Sustainability will be enhanced as most of the works are out of reach of people and rainwater will not easily reach here.”
There are 26 people involved in this work including painters and self-taught artists. A total of five points including Amtali Mor, rail crossing and highway road in Mohakhali are still to be worked on. Mahbub Howladar said that they should be lifted with a crane.
Shaheed Minar is painted all over the flyover, while Bengali characters are painted elsewhere. There are village fairs, traditional puppets, bauls, birds, rickshaw paintings and alpana.
Slogans such as ‘No horn blowing’ and ‘Save trees, save lives’ have been written here and there to raise awareness.
Md. involved in painting the flyover. Russell Rana told bdnews24.com, “Folk subjects have been chosen to be acceptable to all classes of people. And to make it colourful, there is a combination of native alpana, so that colors touch the mind of the passerby as the festival unfolds.”
The head of the artist group. Mahbub Hawladar said, “In addition to attracting people’s attention, I am doing art in such a way that the eyes get peace. I have used colors that are comfortable and tolerable for the eyes.”
According to Mahbub, 1 lakh 81 thousand square feet of flyover should be painted in this work. 200 square feet takes one gallon of paint. A gallon of paint costs Tk 3,800. As such, the entire work will require about 35 lakhs of paint.
Apart from Mohakhali and Moghbazar flyovers, the dividing line between the road from Farmgate to Vijay Sarani has also received a touch of colour.
Maksud Hashem, chief urban planner of Dhaka North City Corporation, told bdnews24.com, “This is our initiative to make the city beautiful. Green grass will be planted under the flyover. And the space will be provided with seating for temporary rest of people, some toys for children, even chess and table tennis board for the entertainment of citizens. These works are now very visible.”
Maqsood Hashem said that CC cameras will be installed on the pillars of the flyover so that no one can destroy the paintings and these things.
He said, “Strict action will be taken if anyone puts up posters on this beautiful street art or defaces it in any way.”
The Chief Urban Planner also talked about the plan to make the areas under the elevated expressway suitable for use.
He said, “There will be toilets and seating. And the sports field has decreased in the city, so that there is no shortage of fair entertainment, there will be entertainment here.
“The first work will be about one kilometer under the elevated expressway in the Kuril Bishwa Road area. Success there will depend on whether other places will do the same.”
