Ctg waterlogging will be gone in 3 years

Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Abdus Salam yesterday said the city dwellers might see a visible improvement to the waterlogging problem in at least one affected area of the port city in the next rainy season, as the CDA has undertaken a mega project to address the crisis.

Residents will get rid of the problem after completion of the three-year project, he said.

Salam made the comments while exchanging views with journalists at a local hotel in the port city.

He said the Executive Committee for National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Tk 5,616-crore project to address the city's waterlogging.

Under this project to be implemented by CDA, the depth of 36 canals will be enhanced by excavation and extracting mud, he said, adding, tidal regulators will be constructed at the mouth of five canals including Mahesh Khal.

A total of 42 silt traps will be constructed, he said, adding, a total of 48 bridges and six culverts over the canals would be rebuilt.

Around 10.77km new drains will be constructed while 176km retaining walls will also be constructed, he said.

In addition, retaining ponds will also be excavated at the mouth of all canals, said the CDA chairman.

Salam said around 302km roadside drains will be repaired while all the drains linked with canals will also be expanded. 

He said the project was taken after a feasibility study conducted by CDA following the guideline of CDA master plan 1995 and an upgraded master plan formulated by Chittagong Wasa in 2016.

Salam said the project will be implemented in consultation and combination of other service provided organisations including Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa).

“I had a talk with Wasa managing director and he assured me of cooperation,” said the CDA chairman, adding, “I believe, the CCC mayor will also cooperate with us in all respects.”

Apart from this project, CDA has already been implementing a number of projects including construction of flyovers and outer ring roads, Salam said.

After completion of the projects, people from northern and southern upazilas of Chittagong would be able to come to the city within 30 minutes.

Industrial investment over Tk 1,00,000 crore might hit southern part of Chittagong within a year as CDA is developing the connectivity of southern Chittagong with Chittagong port, added the CDA chairman.