Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton inaugurated the bridge on Wednesday by unveiling a plaque at Aftabnagar.
The bridge was built with funding from the DNCC and technical supervision and implementation support from the Bangladesh Navy.
The city corporation said residents previously had to take a longer route to travel between the two sides of the canal. With the new pedestrian bridge, people can now cross the canal directly.
Officials said the new connection could save pedestrians around 30 to 40 minutes on their daily journeys.
Speaking at the inauguration, Milton said the bridge was built in response to a long-standing demand from residents of Aftabnagar and Banasree.
“This bridge will save around 30 to 40 minutes of travel time for residents, which is valuable for city dwellers. We are committed to making everyday life easier and reducing public hardship,” he said.
The DNCC administrator also said development work over the Rampura Canal was not limited to pedestrian connectivity.
Two more steel bridges are currently under construction over the canal, he said. The proposed bridges will be capable of carrying heavy vehicles and are expected to provide additional connectivity in the area.
Milton said traffic pressure on major roads in the capital could increase once metro rail related construction begins. In that situation, the existing and proposed bridges could serve as alternative routes and help reduce pressure on major roads in the Rampura and Badda areas, he added.
The project was financed by the DNCC and implemented under the overall supervision and technical management of the Bangladesh Navy.
DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mir Khairul Alam, Chief Engineer Brigadier General Rakibul Hasan, Chief Waste Management Officer Commodore Humayun Kabir, Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes and Additional Chief Engineer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain were among those present at the inauguration.
Senior Bangladesh Navy officials, representatives of local residential societies and other stakeholders also attended the event.
