After the tunnel, Chattogram in the era of elevated expressway
ছবি: বার্তা২৪.কম
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the city's first elevated expressway exactly 17 days after the inauguration of the Bangabandhu Tunnel built under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram. Through this, the people of the port city entered the age of expressways.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the elevated expressway project named 'Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury-CDA Flyover' on Tuesday (November 14) at 11 am via video conference from Gana Bhavan. At the same time, the Prime Minister inaugurated 14 more projects in Chattogram.
On the occasion of the inauguration, Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), the project implementing agency, organized a gathering of about 1,000 people at the entrance of the Patenga end of the elevated expressway.
This elevated expressway is being constructed for fast travel to Patenga Beach along with Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram. Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) is implementing this four-lane expressway project. Chattogram city had three flyovers but no elevated expressway. The construction of this expressway started in 2019.
Initially, the project cost was estimated at Tk. 3 thousand 250 crores. However, last year the cost of revising the project was estimated at Tk. 4 thousand 298 crores. The maximum speed limit for cars on this expressway is 60 km. Toll must be paid for using the expressway. However, the toll has not been determined yet. According to the feasibility study report, in 2024, an average of 63,500 vehicles will travel through this expressway every day.
No more fear of traffic jams:
CDA Avenue, Sheikh Mujib Road and Airport Road are some of the most congested roads in the city. Most of the passengers have to go from the main city to the airport by treading these roads. There is a long journey; the airport road is often congested due to heavy goods vehicles of Chattogram port and vehicles of two EPZs. The elevated expressway starts from Lalkhan Bazar and ends at Patenga via Agrabad, Barik Building Junction, Nimtala, Customs Junction, Saltgola, Chattogram EPZ, Cement Crossing, Kathgarh. Since the entire route is on the flyway, there is no need to get into traffic jams.
Will be in full swing next year:
Although inaugurated on Tuesday, the elevated expressway will be fully operational after January. This flyover will have 15 ramps. Of these, two at Tigerpass, one at GEC Junction (Othar), 4 at Agrabad, one at Fakirhat, two at Nimtala, two at KEPZ, two at CEPZ and one at Cement Crossing. However, their construction has not yet started. Besides, the construction of pillars and main structure in Tigerpass to Lalkhan Bazar section has not been completed. 12 toll plazas are still under construction. The work of CC cameras, road lights and its poles has not been completed. CDA is trying to finish these works in a quick time.
The elevated expressway is expected to be fully operational early next year. If this is the case, the traffic congestion in the city will be removed to a large extent, CDA executive engineer and project director said. Mahfuzur Rahman. He said, 'If the elevated expressway is opened, not only the people of Chittagong city, but also the people of North and South districts will benefit. The elevated expressway will be fully ready by the end of January or the beginning of February next year.
CDA Chief Engineer Kazi Hasan Bin Shams said that after the Prime Minister's inauguration, the airport will be opened for traffic from the airport to the Tigerpass. He said, 'The rest of the work is ongoing. Once they are completed, the expressway will be fully operational.
The projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister in Chattogram:
Elevated Expressway implemented by Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Baklia Access Road and Link Road from Faujdarhat to Bayezid Road, development of 10 private high schools and madrasas by Department of Education and Engineering, multi-storied buildings for government officials and employees by Department of Public Works and government residential flats in abandoned houses. And the construction of dormitory buildings, the establishment of 27 infrastructures and community clinics of Chattogram Medical University by the Directorate of Health Engineering.
Besides, construction of 80 government primary school buildings of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, construction of District Social Service Complex of Department of Social Services, construction of gas transmission pipeline from Maheshkhali Zero Point (Kaladiar Char) to CTMS (Dhalghat Para) of Gas Transmission Company Limited, construction of Maheshkhali-Anwara gas transmission parallel pipeline, Construction of Anwara-Fouzdarhat Gas Transmission Pipeline and Construction of Chittagong-Feni-Bakhrabad Gas Transmission Parallel Pipeline and Construction of Gas Pipeline for Mirsarai Economic Zone by Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited and KGDCL Gas Distribution Network Upgradation Project.
Besides, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of the 121-meter long Vellalapara bridge on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway on the Murali Canal at the initiative of the Road Transport and Highways Department.
