Wait gets longer for Chattogram’s 1st elevated expressway

Chattogram residents will have to wait further for the port city's first elevated expressway as Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), the project's implementing agency, sought a two-year extension due to a lack of coordination with other government agencies.

This means the opening of the elevated expressway, one of the largest infrastructure development projects of the port city, is likely to be deferred.

The project has seen overall progress of 60 percent to date, with 8km out of the proposed 16km done so far.

This expressway is being constructed from Lalkhanbazar to Patenga in four phases, of which, the work of two phases is almost complete.

The project authority announced the launch of the first two phases of the expressway in December.

Our target was to open the 10km portion of the expressway from Patenga to Nimtala in December. But Chattogram Wasa is delaying the moving of the pipeline from the project area.

— Mahfuzur Rahman project director and executive engineer of CDA

But while working on the second phase, complications arose with the Chattogram Wasa pipeline, postponing the completion of the second phase.

Mahfuzur Rahman, project director and executive engineer of CDA, said, "Our target was to open the 10km portion of the expressway from Patenga to Nimtala in December. But Chattogram Wasa is delaying the moving of the pipeline from the project area."

"We couldn't start constructing the three-kilometre section, including the route from Barik Building to Customs, due to the issue of the water pipeline. Hence, it will not be possible to open the expressway this year."

"Moreover, Railway is yet to hand over land from Tigerpass to Dewahat Rail Line for the project. After getting the land, the works from the Lalkhan Bazar to the Dewanhat section will start," he added.

Iftekhar Ullah Mamun, Chattogram Wasa assistant engineer, said the tender for the pipe removal work has been delivered. "The pipeline will be moved from the project area soon."

The Ecnec approved the mega project in July 2017. The project involving Tk 3,250 crore is being implemented with the government's fund.

CDA initiated the project to develop smooth communication between the Chattogram and districts and upazilas in the south of the Chattogram division, cut distance and cost for commuters in the city and ease movement to and from the port and airport.

CDA, earlier, constructed two flyovers connecting the Bahaddarhat and Lalkhan Bazar areas in the city. After the implementation of the expressway, the two ends of the city will be connected through the flyovers and the elevated expressway.

The 16km elevated expressway will be a four-lane path with a total width of 16.5 metres. It will have 24 ramps at nine points from Lalkhan Bazar to the airport. With the ramps, the total length of the expressway will stand at 28.5 km.

The ramps will facilitate entry and exit at Tigerpass, Agrabad, Barik Building, Nimtala Biswa Road, Customs, CEPZ, Karnaphuli EPZ, Kathgarr, Sea-beach and Airport intersections.

The CDA opened the 6.8km "Akhtaruzzaman Flyover" from Muradpur to Lalkhan Bazar on June 16 in 2017.

A ramp in front of Nasirabad Boy's School and the 70-foot high loop connecting the Baby Super Market on Bayezid Bostami Road and the GEC intersection reduced traffic congestion significantly in the busy area of Sholoshahar Gate No-2.