Chattogram Elevated Expressway Project of about 16 km long elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar in Chattogram to Patenga is nearing completion.
The project started in 2017 led by Chattogram Development Authority (CDA)
Chattogram is going to be transformed into a commercial capital. The construction of various mega projects of the government is also going on at a fast pace. It is contemplated to open a part of the Chattogram Elevated Expressway.
In the meantime, the land related complications with the railways have ended. Currently, the expressway work is going on at Lalkhan Bazar intersection. A ramp will go down there to connect the elevated expressway with the Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury flyover.
The construction of the 16 km long elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga has progressed more than 73 percent. The work from Shah Amanat Airport to Nimtala of port area is almost complete. Construction work is going on in Agrabad, Dewanhat, Sheikh Mujib road and Tigerpass area. CDA could not do any work near Tigerpass over-bridge. The organization could not do piling there due to the railway's complications with the CDA over the place.
Finally the complications have ended.
Expressway construction and landing point are being constructed over the place. The work on the Lalkhan Bazar section is in progress. There will be a ramp connected to the Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury flyover.
CDA Chief Engineer Kazi Hasan Bin Shams said that a ramp of the elevated expressway will come down to Lalkhan Bazar, which will be connected to the flyover. Now that part is working. Work is in progress on the section from front of Magistrate Colony to Tigerpass. Work is progressing from Agrabad to Lalkhan Bazar. Other works have progressed a lot. Hopefully, it will be possible to complete the work within the stipulated time.
The 16.5 km elevated expressway to Shah Amanat International Airport will have a total length of 20 km including ramps and loops. The width of this four-lane expressway will be 54 feet. The elevated expressway will have 24 ramps in 9 areas. The city will have 4 ramps at Tigerpass, 4 at Agrabad, 2 at Barik Building Junction, 2 at Nimtoli Junction, 2 at Customs Junction, 4 at CEPZ, 2 at Karnaphuli EPZ, 2 at Kathgarh, 2 at Patenga Seashore area.
It is mentioned that CDA Elevated Expressway construction has been undertaken to reduce the distance from the main city to Shah Amanat International Airport. The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on 11 July 2017. The cost is estimated at Tk 3 thousand 250 crores 83 lakhs. The project was jointly executed by the contracting firm Max-Rankin. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the pillar piling work of the project on 24 February 2019. The duration of the project was initially extended from June 2020 to June 2021.
Then another year is extended. The latest has been extended to June 2024. At the same time, the cost of the project increased by 36 percent due to the cost increase in various areas including changing the alignment of the expressway, new land acquisition, construction of toll plaza, installation of CCTV cameras, construction of control tower, construction of foot overbridges at various points, installation of soundproof barriers and relocation of electric pool has been increased.