Number of flyovers reduces while cost doubles
The Chittagong Development Authority has decided against constructing two of the five flyovers it had originally planned to build to ease traffic congestions in the city.
The prime minister had earlier in the year laid the foundation stones of the flyovers in different parts of the city.
CDA chairman Abdus Salam told New Age that instead of constructing three flyovers at Muradpur, Sholoshahar Gate No 2 and GEC crossing, it would now construct only one flyover stretching from Muradpur to the GEC crossing.
Although the number of flyovers has been reduced, the estimated implementation cost has more than doubled from Tk 260 crore to Tk 545.5 crore,
The construction cost of the flyover from Muradpur to GEC crossing is alone estimated at Tk 400 crore.
The 1665 metre long and 14 metre wide Bahadderhat flyover will cost Tk 86.5 crore and the 645 metre long and 15 metre wide Kadamtoli flyover is estimated to cost Tk 59 crore.
CDA chairman Abdus Salam told New Age that the, ‘Construction of the Bahadderhat flyover will be initiated on December 10, and the construction of Kadamtoli flyover in March, 2011,’ hoping that the final one will start by June 2011.
The CDA was implementing the Bahadderhat flyover using its own funds whilst two other projects would be implemented through government funding.
The CDA chairman said that he hoped that the three projects would be completed by 2012.
CDA officials explained that the ‘Y’-shaped Bahadderhat flyover would start from Muradpur Road and join the two other roads connecting the 3rd Karnaphuli and Kalurghat bridges. It would have four lanes.
When the project is finished, vehicles to and from the southern part of the district as well as from Cox’s Bazar and the three hill districts would be able to reach different destinations bypassing the busy intersection of Bahadderhat.
The proposed four-lane Kadamtoli flyover will be an alternative to the 40-year-old Dewanhat flyover and should also help easing traffic congestions at the Kadamtoli bus terminal.
The Muradpur to GEC flyover is expected to ease traffic congestions on the major thoroughfare in the city from Shah Amanat International Airport to the Bahadderhat crossing.
Engineer Rafiqul Islam, an executive engineer at the Chittagong City Corporation, said implementation of the flyover projects would have a positive impact on the city traffic condition.
‘Construction of the flyovers is more feasible for us due to land constraint and complexities in land acquisition to expand road linkages,’ he said, adding that ideally 25 per cent of the total land of a city should be given over to roads but in Chittagong the proportion was only 10 per cent.
However, not everyone agrees.
Engineer Subash Barua, a city planner who recently conducted research on traffic congestion in the city, said construction of flyovers could not be the major means to ease the gridlock.
‘In most cases flyovers simply shifted traffic congestion from one place to another,’ he said. ‘We will have to improve traffic management in the city to reduce tailbacks.
He also said if the standard of bus services could be improved, the number of vehicles on the road could be reduced.
‘A mini bus can carry 33 passengers using 33 feet of space while it would take 99 feet of space to carry the same number of passengers in auto rickshaws,’ Subash explained.
Meanwhile, the Chittagong mayor, M Manjur Alam, has urged the CDA to construct more roads in the city.
‘The CCC itself cannot construct new roads as it lacks land acquisition powers,’ he said.
He also said they were repairing city roads regularly to keep them fit for traffic as well as coordinating with the CDA and the traffic department of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police to keep vehicular movements as smooth as possible.
