The construction work of Marine Drive on the bank of the river Karnaphuli is continuing at a faster pace. The 80-feet width Embankment-Cum-Marine Drive beside river Karnaphuli is constructing with an expenditure of around Tk 2,275 crore and scheduled to be completed by December 2020.
As per the government’s development progress, the marine drive will be stretched till Cox’s Bazar to connect the port city with Chottagram in the coming days. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while inaugurating the construction work of under river tunnel at the port city on February 24 last, announced such plan. Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) is implementing the project to get rid of the acute water logging problem and tidal surge in a massive part of the city. The 8.5-kilometre long road which is 24-feet height from the sea level and stretching from Shah Amanat Bridge to Kalurghat Bridge will be constructed on the west bank of the river Karnaphuli.
As per the government development plan, the Marine Drive will be extended to Cox’s Bazar, at present the government is constructing Karnaphuli Tunnel under the river Karnaphuli, it will be connected with four-lane roads. According to CDA information, survey of the feasibility study and design for construction of the 60-feet road widening has already been completed. The authority has already completed acquisition of 59.50 hectares of land to construct 12 regulators and pump houses, 2,12,500 square metres of slab protection, sand filling, consultation, survey and procurement of vehicles.
Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project on April 25 in 2017. The embankment-cum-road will be a four-lane one as much as higher and broaden as per the guidelines of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and survey of the Chittagong Metropolitan Master Plan in 1995, CDA sources said.
A total of 12 high-tide protection regulators and pump-houses will also be installed in the mouths of 12 canals for quick removal of water from the submerged city areas, the sources said.
