A six-lane railway underpass in Dhaka's Titipara area was inaugurated, bringing relief to nearly half a million daily commuters who previously faced hours-long delays at railway crossings.

On 8 November, Retired Lieutenant General Abdul Hafiz, the Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Defence and National Solidarity Development Affairs, officially opened the 338-metre-long and 31-metre-wide underpass. The facility, built under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, features four lanes for motor vehicles and two for rickshaws, vans, and bicycles, with wide footpaths on both sides.

"Earlier, we had to drive all the way through Shahjahanpur and Rajarbagh to reach this side. It used to take two to two and a half hours. But now, there's no traffic congestion on this route. The travel time has reduced a lot," said one commuter.

Before the underpass opened, drivers often waited for an hour to cover just half a kilometre when trains passed. Many were forced to detour through Khilgaon or Golapbagh, wasting valuable time and fuel.

The underpass can accommodate vehicles up to five metres tall and features a dedicated pump station with four 75-kilowatt pumps to prevent waterlogging. The automated drainage system channels water into the City Corporation's canal.

Residents from Mugda, Maniknagar, Manda, and Sabujbagh welcomed the improved connectivity to Motijheel, though they urged authorities to ensure proper traffic management and regular maintenance. Some noted that ongoing metro rail construction near Kamalapur Station still causes minor delays.

"Around four to five lakh people travel here daily, so everyone's benefiting," said a local resident.