The authorities concerned will change the design of the elevated expressway, being implemented by Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), connecting the 16-kilometer-long flyover with Shah Amanat International Airport and Patenga beach.
Currently, it takes about two hours to reach the Chattogram airport and the beach from the city center. Once the project is implemented, travel to both destinations will reduce to 20 minutes.
Mahfuzur Rahman, project director and executive engineer of CDA, said a committee has been formed consisting of representatives from the CDA and the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).
Elevated expressway will be implemented by acquiring 12 acres of land following the recommendation of the committee, he added.
Sources said the CDA could not start work on the 3-km portion of the elevated expressway due to a possible change in design.
Had the construction work continued according to the first design, movement of freight vehicles through the five gates of the port would have been disrupted.
That is why changes are being made in design with roadside land being acquired.
Earlier, the CPA objected to on the CPA on the design of the elevated expressway due to safety concerns.
But the effort was in vain and the construction started.
CPA Member (administration) Md Zafar Alam said the existing design of the elevated expressway risks the port’s security.
It may cause problem to import-export problems, he added.
Officials said the change in design is likely to rise the project cost to Tk 250-300 crore as well as implementation period.
