Bakalia access road in Ctg to see the light of day

The Bakalia access road of Chittagong, recommended in the city's master plan formulated in 1995, is finally going to see the light of day.

The Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) is going to begin construction of the four-lane road from the beginning of next year.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the “Construction of road from Siraj-ud-Doula to Shah Amanat Bridge connecting road” project on September 6, said CDA sources.

The estimated cost is about Tk 206 crore, and the implementation period of the 1.5km and 60-feet wide road is between January 2017 and June 2019, they added.

Hopefully, the construction work will start from February 2017, said Ahmed Mainuddin, CDA executive engineer and also the project director. The government will provide the project cost, he said.

Once it is implemented, residents of greater Bakalia and South Chittagong will be able to reach the central part of the city within a very short time, said CDA Chairman Abdus Salam. “Now people have to travel about eight to 10km to go there,” he said.

The road will also play a significant role in reducing gridlock, he said, and hoped that the project will be completed within the stipulated time.

He, however, said due to a lack of initiatives the road could not be constructed so far.  

“It requires about an hour to reach Shah Amanat Bridge from Bakalia,” said AKM Jafrul Islam, ward councillor of Pashchim Bakalia (ward-17), adding that the bridge is a vital exit and entry point for the people of South Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Bandarban.

But after the road's construction, people of Bakalia can reach the bridge within 10 to 15 minutes, he said. “For that, not only residents' sufferings will reduce, the area will also develop.”

But construction of an overpass in every intersection of the road is a must to maximise its benefits, he added.