Tk 1,201 crore projects for development of Ctg

Chittagong Development Authority will build 10-metre high new dam to cope with rising sea level to protect the port city

The government has taken up different development projects involving Tk 1,201 crore for Chittagong.
Among them, the Chittagong Outer Ring Road project of Tk 857 crore was approved by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in its last meeting on March 29 to save Chittagong city from sea surge.
It is the highest allotment ever in the history of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA).
Of the amount, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will provide Tk 681 and Bangladesh government will give Tk 176 crore for this project to be completed within 2014. The total length of the road will be 14.7 km starting from Patenga sea beach to Sagarika intersection.
The project aims at building a dam, 10-metre in height, and a four-lane road, which will protect the city from natural disaster and make outlet from city simultaneously.
CDA officials said they were mulling to build a new dam as the present dam, about 23 feet (6 metre), of Water Development Board to protect the city is not sufficient enough to cope with rising sea level.
Project Director (PD) of the Outer Ring Road Kazi Hasan Bin Shams said the road would protect the city from rising sea level and it would be used as an alternative route for heavy vehicles coming out of Chittagong port simultaneously.
It would help reduce movements of heavy vehicles in the city. The road could be used as an alternative for Dhaka-Chittagong highway, reducing traffic jam. The city will be connected with this embankment highway through three different connecting roads, the PD added.
A consultant would be appointed by CDA to finish land acquisition of the project within a very short time, the PD said, adding, “At the same time we would appoint contractor for the project”.
One official source in CDA said they already allotted Tk 140 crore for land acquisition, TK 176.50 crore for earth filling, Tk 106.27 crore for bridge building and Tk 20.65 crore for culverts.
Meanwhile, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) got approval for different other projects from local government and rural development (LGRD) ministry and is waiting for Ecnec approval. LGRD ministry approved about Tk 344 crore for 629 infrastructures development projects in the port city.
According to a recent decision taken by the government, CCC will get Tk 254 crore for development projects while six members of the parliament (MP) will each get Tk 15 crore to be spent in different projects by CCC following their (MP's) suggestions.
CCC officials said Asian Development Bank will provide 80 percent of the budget and the rest will come from CCC fund.
CCC Executive Engineer Anowar Hossain said, “We hope the project would be passed in June and then we would call the tender for it”.
CCC sources said they are prioritising expansion work of roads, new bridges and culverts, and upgradation of drainage system to remove waterlogging problem in Chittagong city forever.