In a bid to enhance connectivity across Chattogram, the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has embarked on a major initiative to construct and develop seven new roads in the port city, widely recognised as the commercial capital of Bangladesh.

Once complete, the newly developed roads will span a total length of 21.387 kilometres. The CCC has prepared a detailed project proposal (DPP) estimating the cost at Tk1,771 crore, following a comprehensive feasibility study.

Approval for the project is now awaited from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), according to CCC officials.

The project, titled “Seven Road Construction and Development under Chattogram City Corporation,” also includes the construction of 28 reinforced cement concrete (RCC) box culverts, a footbridge, and a railway level-crossing.

Although the proposed timeline for the project is set from 1 December 2023 to 30 December 2026, the CCC cannot commence without the required approval from ECNEC.

The project aims to ease traffic flow by reducing congestion, promote socioeconomic growth in the area, and improve overall transportation infrastructure for residents and workers within the city.  The seven roads included in the project are as follows: the 1.139km Omar Ali Matabbar Road, the 2.5km Khawaja Road, the 1.888km Polytechnic Road, the 4.351km KB Aman Ali Road, the 1.651km Ishan Mahajan Road, the 2.638km Faillatali Bazar Road, and the 6.268km Munir Nagar to Faillatali Bazar Road.

An estimated Tk235.18 crore is required for the construction and development of these roads, according to CCC sources. The proposed DPP also outlines the need to acquire 27.158 acres of land, at an estimated cost of Tk1,044 crore, to facilitate the road expansion.

Furthermore, 28 RCC culverts with a total length of 308.60 metres will be built at a cost of Tk25.48 crore. Additional elements of the project include a railway level-crossing along Faillatali Bazar Road and a steel footbridge on Polytechnic Road.

Land acquisition is expected to be completed by June 2025, while construction of the road embankments should be finished by June 2026, with road surfacing completed by December 2026. Other related infrastructure tasks will be conducted in parallel.

Currently, approximately six million people reside in Chattogram, and with the city’s population and traffic levels continuing to grow, the existing road network is increasingly congested.

This project aims not only to ease traffic flow but also to support tourism, business activity around the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ), and Bangladesh’s primary seaport, enhancing the region’s overall road infrastructure.

Moreover, the development of these roads is expected to provide safer travel options during emergencies, such as flooding, CCC sources added.

When contacted, CCC Executive Engineer Ashiqul Islam said the project proposal was submitted to the relevant ministry in January this year.

“Meetings regarding the project have already been held at the Planning Commission,” he stated.

However, factors such as the political climate, including the quota reform movement, the country’s situation in July and August, and changes within the Awami League government delayed the project’s approval by ECNEC.

“With the newly elected CCC mayor soon to take office, we will proceed as per his directives on the project,” Engineer Islam added.