BSS, Chittagong :
Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has executed 22 development projects in last five years and is executing another 18 projects.
Total financial involvement in the completed and under implementation projects is Taka 4952.92 crore. The implementation works began from August 2009.
Of the 40 projects, 22 have been completed involving Taka 1189 crore, 10 projects involving Taka 2765.78 crore are nearing completion and implementation of other eight projects involving Taka 998.14 crore is under process.
In an exclusive interview with BSS, CDA Chairman Abdus Salam
said the government had allotted Taka 4009.23 crore against 28 projects during the last five years while the CDA spent the remaining Taka 943.63 crore from its own fund for 12 other schemes.
The main projects funded by the government are as follows: construction and development of Arakan road at a cost of Tk 24.76 crore, Bahaddarhat flyover at a cost of Tk 120.56, Chittagong outer ring road at a cost of TK 177.20 crore, Muradpur-Lalkhan Bazar Flyover at a cost of TK 462.30, Construction of Loop road to Facilitate communication of Asian University for Women at a cost of TK 196.02 crore and Kadamtali flyover at a cost of TK 58.90 crore.
CDA chairman said the main development works of CDA’s own fund were Anonnya Residential project at a cost of TK 396 crore, 2nd phase of Bakalia Kalpolok Residential project at a cost of TK 277.06 crore, Construction and development of Bipani Bitan (new market) at a cost of TK 34 crore.
Meanwhile, a six-Kilometre-long and 10.08-metre-wide loop road to Asian University for Women is nearing completion.
The project, known as Bypass Road project with an outlay of Tk 200.09 crore is progressing. Construction of a 5.2-Kilometre long and 15-metre wide flyover from city’s Muradpur to Lalkhan Bazar at a cost of TK 462.30 will start very soon.
Salam said CDA got fillip for development projects and such a huge allocation for their implementation was possible as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself took up the responsibility of developing the port city as per her electoral pledge.
“I expect to complete all the ongoing projects as I have firm commitment to discharge the responsibility that Prime Minister entrusted to me”, he said.
Abdus Salam, also the treasurer of ruling Awami League Chittagong city unit, was the first person to have political appointment for the CDA chairman post on April 23, 2009.
He got his service tenure extended for two years on April 26, 2011 and for one more year on March 19, 2013. Despite regarded as commercial capital, the port city was lacking in good road network due to lack of vision and integrated development programme, observed the CDA chairman.
“Implementation of the flyovers and road expansion projects would not only ease gridlocks but also help to have “A highway within the city” through development of internal connectivity,” he said.
CDA Chairman Salam said construction of Bahoddarhat Flyover at a cost of Tk 120.57 crore eased huge traffic congestion at Bahoddarhat intersection. It would also provide gateway to the proposed Asian Highway and help expansion of tourism in Cox’s Bazar, he added.
Muradpur-Lalkhan Bazar Flyover, when completed, will ease gridlocks at Muradpur, Sholoshahar, GEC and WASA intersections of the busy CDA Avenue, said CDA Chairman.
Kadamtali Flyover and expanded Pathantuli road provided an alternative way to reach Agrabad Sheikh Mujib Road and reduce huge pressure on Dewanhat Over Bridge.
The inter-district buses and trucks found another way to reach Dhaka-Chittagong Highway after construction of Kadamtali Flyover.
Expansion and development of Kapashgola Road (from Bahoddarhat to Gani Bakery), Siraj-ud-Doula road, Anderkilla-Laldighi Road and Sadarghat-Firingi Bazar Road would be an alternative to CDA Avenue to reach Barik Building intersection from Bahaddarhat. Alongside saving a huge quantity of fuel cost and invaluable work hours, the road would also ease gridlock in the city centre to a remarkable extent, said the CDA chairman.
Salam said that CDA had implemented those to build traffic jam free port city particularly to build the city in a planned way.
Following the development work, the port city has considerably been freed from traffic gridlock on some important routes, he added.
CDA sources said the CDA came into being on July 26 , 1959 with the basic objective to develop the city as a modern and planned one .
Since then it has been executing several types of pro-people uplift projects.
From 1959 to 1991, the CDA had executed the development work in 212 square miles area of its jurisdiction as per a Regional Plan and master plan which had been chalked out by the British Town Planning Consulting Firm (BTPCF).
In 1992, the authority chalked out one more master plan with the assistance of UNDP.
Now the authority has been implementing all kinds of development works as per the said master plan in 445 square miles area.
