The construction work of Elevated Expressway from Patenga to Lalkhan Bazar is under way, which can contribute to solve the congested road condition and traffic jam problem of port city Chattogram to a great extent.
The road from Patenga airport to Kalurghat is the main medium of transportation of the city. It takes two hours on the road from Kalurghat to airport, which increases with the extent of traffic jam. Even, people miss the flights as they can’t reach the airport timely. It’s hampering the image of the port city and creating negative impression in the minds of the investors. However, the upcoming first elevated expressway of the city from Patenga to Lalkhan Bazar can solve the problem to a great extent.
Among the 379 pillars of the expressway, the construction work of more than 300 pillars has been completed. The total progress of the work is 70%. Now, the establishment work of pillars in Bandar Mor, Tigerpass and Lalkhan Bazar is going on. The construction of pillars and mounding tasks of this 16 kilometers long and 54 feet wide mega-project are to be completed in June 2023 and the whole project is scheduled to be completed within June 2024.
If it’s completed, the passengers can reach airport within 30-40 minutes. Their hassle of getting there will be minimized and the foreign investors will be attracted as well. It will be connected to Bangabandhu Tunnel and the road to airport will get rid of traffic jams.
The project under the supervision of Chattogram Development Authority was allotted Tk 3,250 crore 83 lakh. But, in the first amendment in ECNEC meeting held on Wednesday, the cost has been increased to 32 %. Now, the cost risen is Tk 4,298 crore 95 lakh.
Director of Elevated Expressway project, engineer Mahfuzur Rahman said, the construction work is going on smoothly. If the work pace keeps its momentum, rest of the works will be completed in next summer. All the previous problems related to the project is cleared. So, it’s going to be very good addition for the city-dwellers.
Director of Mostafa Hakim Group, Sarwar Alam said. “If completed, the expressway will increase the image of the city to the foreigners as well as pave the way to solve the traffic problems. We want it to be connected with Outer Ring Road and Port Connecting Road. Then, the goods-loaded vehicle could come out from the port and go to many districts of northern parts of the country using Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.
For the up and down of the vehicles there’ll be 25 ramps in 9 areas of the expressway. Among the ramps, four are located in Agrabad, CEPZ area, two in Barik Bulding, Nimtali Mor,Cstoms Mor, KEPZ, Kathgarh and Patenga Sea-beach area.
@The article appeared on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 15, 2022 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque
