CHATTOGRAM: A preliminary feasibility study for a metro rail system in Chattogram was launched on Tuesday.
Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader inaugurated the project titled "Transport Master Plan and Preliminary Feasibility Study for Urban Metro Rail Transit Construction of Chattogram Metropolitan Area (CMA)" virtually during an event at a hotel.
Quader also highlighted upcoming infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a six-lane highway between Dhaka and Chattogram, upgrading of the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway with JICA's assistance, and the soon-to-be-inaugurated Bangabandhu Tunnel.
The minister stated that the metro rail system will become as popular in Chattogram as it is in Dhaka and described the day as "memorable" for the port city.
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud attended the programme as the special guest while Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) Chairman M Zahirul Alam Dubash, Republic of Korea Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun, Chattogram Zilla Parishad Chairman ATM Pearul Islam, Chittagong University (CU) Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Shireen Akhter attended among others.
Roads and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri conducted the event.
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said, “The world is going through a financial crisis right now."
“Our government postponed many projects due to the situation. However, the Prime Minister has instructed that the project be advanced despite all these issues," he said. According to Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), the total feasibility study cost of the project is estimated at Tk 70.62 Crore.
Of this, the Bangladesh government will finance over Tk 13.62 crore and the Korean government around Tk 57 crore through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
DTCA will be sponsored by Road Transport and Highways Division under Road Transport and Bridges Ministry for the project to be carried out on a land area of 1,152 square kilometres.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier asked the authorities to concedevelop a communication system through metro rail from the Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport to the Chattogram Railway Station in the port city earlier in January last year.
Later on November 22, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project's feasibility study proposal prepared by the DTCA to be conducted between January 2023 and June 2025.
