Mohiuddin Jewel, Chattogram
Despite facing coronavirus crisis, the construction works of the first Elevated Expressway in Chattogram is going on in full swing uninterrupted.
Almost half of the work has already been completed. With this launch, anyone can reach the airport from the city in just 20 minutes.
The implementing agency - Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), is working with the aim of launching it by 2023.
When contacted, Kazi Hasan Bin Shams, Chief Engineer, Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), told to Bangladesh Post, “Our work has not stopped since we started. In this difficult corona crisis too, the work of the project is progressing at a faster pace.”
“`The elevated expressway is being designed with the advice of experts,” he added.
The project was approved by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on July 11, 2017 at a cost of Tk. 3,250.63 core to reduce traffic congestion in Chattogram city.
One and a half years after the approval, on February 24, 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the pillar piling work of the elevated expressway construction project.
At that time, the project was supposed to be completed by 2020, but it was not possible due to the alignment problem of the three and a half kilometer section with the Chittagong port. Later, the duration of the project has been extended till June 2023.
According to CDA sources, the 16-km expressway will have a total of 389 pillars, of which 230 have been completed and moved to Agrabad, Chaumuhani area in Chattogram.
Girders have been set up in the area from Patenga to Kathgarh. The port authorities' objections to the expressway from Barik Building to Saltgola have also been addressed. The port authorities have already handed over 6 acres of land.
The area from the Barik building to the ground floor was supposed to be a flyover through the existing road, considering the security of the port.
According to the latest decision, the expressway will pass over the old road. As a result, only 10 to 12 feet of space has to be taken on the side of the road.
This will reduce the need to demolish buildings and installations. Although the cost of design changes has increased, it has not yet been fully determined.
Mahfuzur Rahman, Executive Engineer of CDA, said that they are working with the advice of experts in such a way that the beauty of Lalkhan Bazar area can be further enhanced from Tiger Pass.
According to project sources, 24 ramps are to be constructed at 9 junctions under this project. The width of this four lane Expressway will be 54 feet. In addition, the expressway will have two and a half thousand LED lights.
However, the city corporation and a section of urbanites have already objected to the Tiger Pass part of the project. They said, the flyover will cover this part of the city, where there are lots of green plants.
When contacted, Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Chairman M Zahirul Alam told Bangladesh Post that the project is being implemented in Chattogram due to the importance and the sincerity of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“This project is very important for the people. If the flyover project is completed, the city can be reached in just 15-20 minutes without any traffic jams from the airport and other areas in much shorter time,” he added.