Process on to construct Kadamtali flyover
Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has started process to construct a flyover on Kadamtali intersection to ease gridlock in the port city of Chittagong as well as to reduce pressure on the 40-year-old Dewanhat flyover. The proposed four-lane 645-metre long and 15-metre wide flyover would be constructed at an estimated cost of Tk 59 crore under the Housing and Public Works Ministry and CDA. Dewanhat flyover, the only connecting way between the northern and southern portion of the city, is now taking huge pressure of vehicles everyday posing a threat of accident. CDA has floated tender for appointment of consultant of the project after the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) had approved it recently. Ecnec at its second meeting of the current fiscal year on July 13 chaired by its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the Kadamtali flyover project. Dewanhat flyover is one of the key parts of the city's lone main thoroughfare stretching from Kalurghat to Patenga. It was constructed 40 years ago to facilitate movement of trucks and other vehicles weighing five to seven tons. But with passage of time pressure of traffic on it has increased by several times. Many goods-laden trucks and heavy containers weighing over 40 to 50 tons from Chittagong port are now plying through this aged flyover everyday posing a threat to accident. Ali Ashraf, a commuter, said, “If the flyover faces any problem in near future the whole traffic system of the port city will collapse due to lack of its proper alternative way.” An alternative way is essential since people of the northern part of the city solely depend on the flyover to reach destinations like Agrabad Commercial area, Chittagong port, Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport and Chittagong Export Processing Zone in the southern part, he added. Hailing the CDA initiative of constructing a flyover on Kadamtali intersection, Mohammad Akhter hoped that it would also ease the acute gridlock at Tigerpass and Dewanhat. CDA Chairman Abdus Salam said they have already floated tender for appointment of consultant of the project. With this all the five projects CDA took last year for constructing five flyovers in the port city have got approval of the Ecnec. Four other flyovers would be built on four busy intersections including Bahodderhat, Muradpur, Sholoshahar Gate No-2 and GEC. Salam said the present government approved its several projects including construction of the five flyovers involving around Tk 342 crore in last one and a half years and the amount is highest in the 50-year history of the organisation. CDA took the projects to develop the city's road network keeping pace with the increasing volume of vehicular movement, he said. Sources at CDA said the Bahodderhat flyover project is now under consideration of the cabinet's purchase committee. The construction work would start after getting nod from the committee, sources added. Consultants have already been appointed for the detailed design of the projects to construct three other flyovers, they said. Salam said they have completed different development projects including expansion of several important roads involving Tk 58 crore in last fiscal year from July 2009 to June 2010. He said construction of the flyover and expansion of some other important roads would solve the acute gridlock and ensure smooth movement of vehicles in the port city.
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