To reduce traffic congestion in the port city, the government on Tuesday formally launched the feasibility study for the proposed Chattogram metro rail project and the Chattogram transport master plan.
Obaidul Quader, the minister of roads, transportation, and bridges, made the announcement through video conference at an event hosted at the Hotel Radisson Blu Bay View in Chattogram.
The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) reports that a Tk70.63 crore budget has been allocated for the feasibility study.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) would provide Tk57 crore, and the Bangladeshi government will contribute Tk13.63 crore. The duration of the feasibility study is January 2023 to June 2025.
The feasibility study, which was approved at a meeting of the National Economic Council’s Executive Committee on November 22, 2022, will last from January 2023 to June 2025.
Obaidul Quader proclaimed: “The aim of the administration is to turn Chattogram into a global centre of finance. In conjunction with that effort, a feasibility assessment for the metro rail project and the transport master plan was conducted.”
The minister also stated that preparations are being made to prepare a concept for a new marine drive connecting Mirsarai and Cox’s Bazar.
“Moreover, with the help of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), work is being done to widen the Chattogram-Bazar Cox’s route to four lanes. In addition, the access road will be expanded to six lanes to make it easier to carry goods from Chattogram port to various parts of the nation “added he.
The project manager for the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica), Tony Ilho Chung, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed Chattogram Metro Rail project and the strategy for reducing traffic congestion in the port city.
According to sources, the project will increase the capability of the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), and Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) for better traffic control.
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, attended the opening ceremony at the Hotel Radisson Blu, Chattogram.
He stated: “I would ask the project’s implementation company to include the city across the Karnaphuli River from Chattogram University, Bangabandhu Shilpanagar, and in this plan for survey work. because the future beauty of Chattogram City will increase as a result of this initiative.”
Along with many others, the occasion included the presence of the Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, the Mayor of Chattogram City, M. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the Chairman of the CDA, Zahirul Alam, and the Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh, Lee Jang Keun.