The expectations of the dreamt commercial capital by the people of Chattogram now at the doorstep after implementations of the ongoing multipurpose mega projects in the port city . Concept of commercial capital is not now a mirage rather reality . Government is advancing to fulfill the concept of commercial capital undertaking different mega projects like elevated expressway, Karnaphuli Tunnel, expansion of Chattogram Port , Mirsarai Economic Zone , Sitakunda Industrial hub and mega power and water projects to make Chattogram a real commercial capital.
Construction work on elevated expressway(EE) for Port City is clearly on in full swing. The idea is for the EE to facilitate smooth communication along an 18-kilometre route running from the historic Lalkhan Bazaar to the Shah Amanat International Airport beside seaport thoroughfare. Formal construction works begins very recently after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on a campaign-like tour of the region, made it part of an unprecedented ‘development package’ offered to Chittagongians ahead of the 11th parliamentary election held in 2018.Meanwhile the construction of Karnaphuly Tunnel with a mission to turn port city into Twin City is progressing fast in both sides of the river points. Twin city will be designed like as Shanghai city of China.
Local business community and people in general expressed great excitement and optimism regarding the potential impact of this single infrastructure project. Some of them believe Chittagong will be transformed into “a world-class twin city” once the expressway opens to the public. Once the nearby designated economic zones of Sitakunda- Mirsarai and Anowara are up and running at full swing , using Ctg Port to trade and bring in supplies, they believe Chattogram is bound to be recognized as one of the most important port cities in the world.
Prime Minister formally inaugurates the construction work on January 30 last , even though the work had been ongoing for a good few months already.Visiting the construction site this week, our correspondent found that about 60 pillars have been piled so far. Besides, soil tests have been completed on 450 spots stretching from Lalkhan Bazaar to Barik Building area near the No.1 berth of Chattogram Sea port.
Meanwhile, urban planners suggested preparing alternative roads before implementing the project as some extremely busy areas like Agrabad, the EPZ area, Ports and Customs will be rendered inaccessible during the time of construction in their respective area.
Jahirul Alam Dovash, the incumbent Chairman of the Chittagong Development Authority, said the project is being implemented at a cost of Tk 3250 crore, making it the city’s largest development project till today. A journey that currently takes two-and-a half hours which may be reduced to only half an hour. According to CDA, a Chinese company named Max-Ranken Joint Venture was tasked with the responsibility to complete the construction of the rest of the project at a cost of TK 2854 crore. A tender was floated for the purpose inviting proposals. It should be mentioned that 10 companies filed their proposals to bag the project. President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mahbubul Alam said , after completing the constructing project, container-handling capacity of Chittagong Port will also be doubled in the next five years. He sees the port and the country thriving, hand in hand, in 5 years’ time.
The situation is bound to improve once the expressway starts operating, he added. Mahbubul also made it a point to thank the prime minister, for what he called “the largest single project in the history of Chattogram”.Chamber Presidernt alo hoped the port city will be turned into commercial capital following the completion of the proposed twin city after Karnaphuly tunnel is completed. Anowara side of the tunnel will help to facllitate rapid development of Economic zone on southern side of Karnaphuli which adjoined Karnaphuli upazila, Anowara upazila, Boalkhali and Patiya Upazila CCCI President also mentioned that only World Trade Centre of the country is situated at Port City aimed at boosting the exports of Bangladeshi traditional and non-traditional commodities to abroad. The WTC was established following the all out efforts of the premier chamber of Commerce, Chattogram .
Expansion of Chattogram Port : Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chattogram Port is being constructed as a part of increasing the handling capacity of the country’s main harbor. Constructions of the multipurpose PCT with facilities of flyover, container berths, oil jetty, backup yard is progressing in full swing. Project Director of PCT Mizanur Rahman sources said piling the yard is under going.
Chinese contractor has been entrusted with the pile driving works and the Malaysia will supply 1000 RCC piles in the site. The piles will be carried by six Chinese ship in phases. In the meantime, one vessel with 150 piles already reached in the site. Project Director sources said about 20 percent of the project ground works near about completion .According to CPA, the PCT is being built to handle 4,45000 TEUs containers annually. Bangladesh Army’s Engineering core is looking after the supervision works of the PCT and in the meantime Bangladesh Army appointed six consulting contractors for the project. Out of total estimated budget of Tk.1,869 crores , Tk.650 crores handed over to BA for undergoing the supervision and consulting works. Port sources said in the proposed 600 meters long PCT, 3 vessels having 190-200 meters long with 10 meters drafts will be able to take berth at a time . The backup yard of the PCT consists of 16 acres of land where 4,500 TEUs container s may be accommodated. . The PCT will have 1,00,000 sq meters RCC pavement (yard and internal road), 2100 sq. meters container freight block , 6 meters height 1,750 sq meters bonded warehouse, 5000 sq. feet Port office bhaban, 1,250 sq. meters mechanical workshop, 450meters long flyover and 4 lanes consignment delivery passage.
On the the other hand, earth development works undergoing for a new bigger terminal beside estuary of Karnaphuli river adjacent to Bay at Patenga named Bay Terminal. The work of truck terminal and container yard undergoing . Meanwhile in the first meeting of the Chattogram Port Development advisory committee held on September 4 last at the Bandar training institute with committee President and State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury iin the chair. Information Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud graced the occasion as ch ief guest. e portn Wednesday. -BSS
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Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud put special emphasis on increasing the capacity of Chattogram Port, the country’s premier seaport, by keeping pace with the national economic growth.
“The overall development of Chattogram Port is crucial to move the country forward Development of the port is not only related to overall development of the country, it is also related to development of the entire region,” he said.
Dr Hasan Mahmud said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sincerely wants development of the premier port of the country . . Construction of Patenga Container Terminal and Bay Terminal are going on in full swing as first track projects of the government, he added.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave us the national identity. But, Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia were involved in conspiracies to erase the identity. Terming the role of Chattogram port as important for vibrant economic growth of the country, he added. The state minister said the port is now ranked as the 64th busiest among 100 container handling ports across the world. “The present government has been striving to be among the top 50 busiest ports in the world, Info Minister added. .
Power and Water project: CWASA is implementing four projects aimed at fulfillment of the demands of the city dwellers . Very recently a mega water project named Sheikh Hasina Water Supply project of Ranguia completed and the Sheikh Hasina Water Project-2 is under progress . Besides, two water project viz. Madunaghat Water Treatment Project and Bhandarjuri Water project in Boalkhali are progressing fast . After completion of the Bhandarjuri project, the dwellers of Karnaphuli upazila and the industrial consumers on either bank of the Ksrnaphuli will get pure drinking water .
On the other hand, CWASA has taken mega project of Sewerage and preliminary works under process following the dynamic dedication of the Managing Director Engr. AKM Fazlullah during his 10 years service in CWASA.
On the other hand The construction works of Two more mega coal fired power project one at Banskhali and other at Moheskhali under going with total generation capacity of 3000MWs . LNG Terminal installed at Moheskhali coast under Cox’s Bazar district with supply pipeline upto Anowara near KAFCO and CUFL , two giant fertilizer factories of the country on south bank of river Karnaphuli.
Mirsarai Economic Zone : Mirsarai Economic zone, one the unit of the Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar will be sighted very shortly. Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority formally inaugurated the ground breaking ceremony of MEZ recently.
The zone is situated 60 kilometers off Chattogram city. In the mean time , power sub station for the zone already constructed and power connections completed . Connecting roads towards zone area already nearing completion. Sitakunda Industrial Hub , beside the proposed MEZ will also be developed beyond expectations as the existing industrial unit in Sitakunda zone will be flourished in a bigger way . Mentionable the major key industries of the country are situated in Sitakunda zone before emergence of Bangladesh.
Karnaphuli Tunnel : The construction of the dreamt Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River, undergoing ahead in development highway . Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Roads & Bridges visited the site of the tunnel recently.
The PSC chairman said Bangladesh Bridges Authority is implementing this tunnel with 7 motives including One City & Two Town model, development of communications in south eastern zone of the country aimed at turning country into a role model across the world. He further said following the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina , first ever tunnel road is being constructed in the country.He also said after completion of the desired tunnel in Karnaphuli river, the long cherished Commercial Capital will be sighted with no controversies. He also hoped for bigger industrialization on both sides of the Karnaphuli river and opportunities of employment with increase of livelihood standard after completion of the Tunnel .
Project Director of the Tunnel Project Md. Harunur Rashid told that 48 percent ground d evelopment works completed so far and is expected to be opened for traffic by end of 2022. China is implementing the project as the deal with China was signed on October 14, 2016 , he added.After completion of the Tunnel, the southern bank of the river Karnaphuli will be developed in a rapid way will help to create huge job opportunities in the Anowara Economic zone, conscious entrepreneurs opined.
