Chattogram Bureau :
The Outer Ring Road under construction at a cost of Tk 2,500 crore has turned into a truck stand. Although the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has built the road to ease traffic congestion in the city, it has also created new traffic jams and increased the risk of accidents.
There are allegations that some Dhaka-based industrial groups, backed by the ruling party, have illegally set up truck stands on the side of the road. In addition to these illegal stands, they have recently made the main road a stand. The CDA says the truck stands in and around Patenga are illegal. It is also illegal to park trucks on the road. Police say cars parked on the road will be seized.
According to sources, CDA has started construction of Chittagong Outer Ring Road at a cost of Tk 1,413 crore in collaboration with Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). Later, the cost was increased to Tk 2,500 crore to add various facilities to the road. Last January, in the third phase, the cost was increased again and the project cost was set at Tk 2,085.96 crore. Of this, government expenditure is 2 thousand 32 crore 40 lakh 42 thousand and JICA is giving 743 crore 55 lakh 6 thousand rupees as loan.
Project stakeholders say the Chittagong Ring Road, about 5 km from Patenga beach to Halishahar, and about 15 km from south Kattli to Patengar Naval Academy, will be connected to the CEPZ. Once the Outer Ring Road project is completed, heavy vehicles like trucks, covered vans and lorries heading towards Chittagong Port and EPZ will not use the internal routes of the city. Besides, if the Outer Ring Road is connected to the Karnafuli Tunnel under construction, the main roads of Chittagong including the metropolis will be traffic free.
