Obaidul Karim, Sucess Of Jatrabari-Gulistan Flyover Project

Obaidul Karim is a Bangladeshi businessman and industrialist known for his involvement with Orion Group, a large diversified industrial conglomerate headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Such positivity has seen the group make important inroads into developing the nation’s infrastructure. Planned and well-designed connections boost a country’s appeal for both local and foreign investment, as poor, inefficient communications deter investors and frustrate national advancement efforts. Therefore, the government has encouraged private-sector participation to accelerate infrastructure development and the Orion Group has been the first to take up the mantle.
Leading the charge, Orion Group incorporated Belhasa Accom and Associate Ltd and submitted a bid for the Jatrabari-Gulistan Flyover Project. After a highly competitive selection process, the company was awarded the contract to design, construct, maintain and operate the flyover using privately obtained finance on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis. The concession agreement was sealed in June 2005 and construction began in June 2010.
The Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover breaks new ground in Bangladesh. “This is the first infrastructure project in Bangladesh under a public-private partnership agreement. Previously there was no such type of investment and it was a dream that a private entity would be able to invest in infrastructural development,” says Mr. Karim. “Initially, the flyover was to be seven kilometres long, now it is 10 kilometres. The investment is around $290 million and we are working on raising these funds from completely local sources.”
In addition to entering unchartered financing territory, other challenges facing the Orion Group include the required construction time for the project being shortened by a year, to two and a half years construction time, and the physical constraints imposed by the site being in such a built-up area. “The government is very keen to complete projects such as this flyover and is giving us maximum support. If we need police support for anything, it is provided immediately,” says Mr. Karim. “Presently, we are facing traffic jam issues because we are digging up ground in the middle of a narrow road. There is some inconvenience, however Bangladeshis understand the value this project will bring once completed. We are receiving a lot of support from local people.
Dhaka is one of the most congested cities in the world. The World Bank predicts its population, currently 13 million people, could rise to 25 million by 2020. After completion of the four-lane flyover, which will be named the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover, the city’s third elevated expressway will greatly improve links between the Dhaka metropolitan area and at least 30 other districts, including the port city of Chittagong, Mongla, Sylhet and Barisal.