The dream Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli, City Outer Ring Road, Elevated Expressway, projects to decongest the city and many development works are going on. When these development works are completed, there will be no traffic jam in Chattogram.
First it started with the construction of MA Mannan flyover at Bahaddarhat. Then Akhtaruzzaman flyover from Muradpur to Lalkhan Bazar. After it became operational, there is no traffic jam on this part of the busiest road. Most of the vehicles including private cars, CNG autorickshaws are passing over. The 16 km long elevated expressway from Patenga will reach Lalkhan Bazar. As a result, the main roads of the metropolis will be free of traffic jams. Although the Outer Ring Road is not fully completed, traffic has started. Once the Karnaphuli tunnel is completed, the Ring Road tunnel will exit at Anwara on the south bank, where Parki Beach is located. The whole area is going to be the main tourist attraction.
Most of the mega projects are being implemented through Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) officials said that most of the projects will be completed in the future. Then the city of Chattogram will become a beautiful sight. Due to the corona epidemic, the work has slowed down, but now the work is going on in full swing.
The project officials said that everything is being done in a very planned manner. Tourism in Chattogram has been specially taken into consideration in terms of development. The tunnel under the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram will not only enhance the beauty but will also be helpful for the port. There was a danger that the river navigable would be destroyed by silt if there was a pillar bridge. Bangabandhu Tunnel is under implementation in the Prime Minister's plan, along with the beauty of connecting North and South Chattogram. The City Outer Ring Road will enter this tunnel, which will exit at Anwara and join the Cox's Bazar highway. The ring road will be extended to the north in Mirsharai, Sitakunda and Sonagaji areas of Feni up to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib industrial zone.
On the other hand, 94 percent of Bangabandhu Tunnel work has been completed. A total of two tubes in the tunnel. Vehicles will pass through one and return through the other. Two tubes are in final stage of work. The length of each tube is 2 thousand 450 meters. Of which 2 thousand 170 meters have been bored.
After the completion of the Karnaphuli tunnel, Chattogram citys will become one city two towns like Shanghai in China.
All types of vehicles carrying passengers and goods will travel through this road. As a result, the industrial factory will also be built in Anwara of South Chattogram. A China Economic Zone will be established there, where Chinese investors will invest. About 100 crores worth of projects around Parki beach are under implementation. This will include beautification of hotels, resorts and beaches. Tourists can go through the tunnel from Outer Ring Road i.e. Patenga Sea-Beach to Parki, which is known as Mini Cox's Bazar.
Another mega project to decongest Chittagong city is the Tk 4,298 crore elevated expressway. The 16 km long runway will run from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Patenga. When this work is completed, it will take less than half an hour to go from the city center to Patenga. Now it takes two hours in traffic jam. CDA said that 70 percent of the project work has been completed.
Project Director and CDA Executive Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman said the elevated expressway work will have a total of 379 pillars, from Patenga to Saltgola and from Barik Building to Chowmuhani. Slab laying work has also started in Patenga section. The most time consuming task is to install the pillars. Once this work is completed, the slab and road work will be completed very quickly. The Chattogram Port Authority had some objections to the construction of the elevated expressway from Barik Building to Saltgola on safety grounds. Now it has passed. As a result, there is no obstacle in the construction of the expressway. The Akhtaruzzaman flyover, which started from Muradpur in Chittagong city, has come down to Lalkhan Bazar and will be connected to the elevated expressway. This 16 km flyover will be connected to the Akhtaruzzaman flyover and will stand at about 22 km. This is the main road of Chattogram city. If there is a flyover road above, there will be no traffic jam on the lower road.
Chattogram Development Authority Chairman M Zahirul Alam Dubash, Project Director Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman and CDA Development Officers are inspecting the construction work of elevated expressway recently.
CDA officials said that under this project there will be 15 ramps at 7 junctions. The width of this four-lane expressway will be 54 feet. The expressway will have 2500 LED lights. About 8 km section of this 16 km project from the beach to Saltgola is currently under construction. Part of the project has fallen within the boundaries of Chittagong port. Therefore piling work is going on in the 1.3 km stretch from Custom to Saltgola with the approval of the Port Authority. Drainage and road widening is underway on the 1.7 km stretch from Barrick Building to Custom. Besides, the alignment of the section from Dewanhat to Lalkhan Bazar has been finalized. Accordingly, the work will also start in a short time.
Project Director CDA Executive Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman said that the project area is divided into four parts and the construction work is going on. These are Patenga to Cement Crossing Junction, Cement Crossing to Saltgola, Saltgola to Barik Building Junction and Barik Building Junction to Dewanhat. Among them, the work of two parts from Patenga to Saltgola is almost at the final stage. Piling is going on from Barrick Building to Dewanhat
This elevated expressway, the second largest in the country, will improve connectivity between Chattogram city and the southern region; Reduce traffic congestion and travel time. The elevated expressway will also make communication with CEPZ, KEPZ and Chattogram Shah Amanat Airport easier and faster. The under-construction Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli river will establish a direct connection, which will be known as a milestone in the communication system of the port city of Chattogram.
As there are electric pillars at various places within the alignment of the elevated expressway project, it is difficult to widen the road to start piling. Therefore, in coordination with the Electricity Development Board, arrangements have been made to move forward the work by removing the electric pillars along the road. As there are railway lines in some parts of the project area there are also some complications in working there. CDA has given a memorandum to Bangladesh Railway to solve it.
However, CDA has modified the design somewhat and is connecting the main road with ramps at many places. Now it will be useful for people. When its connection is made with the people of all areas, then its benefits will be received by the people of Chattogram as a whole. When these works are completed, the traffic jam in Chittagong city will be reduced. But if the city is to be completely decongested, Chattogram will become a modern city.