Army assistance speeds up CHT road development
Road development projects in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are progressing fast as Engineering Construction Battalions (ECBs) of Bangladesh Army are working with a few government departments and international organisations engaged in the sector.
ECB-16, ECB-17 and ECB-19 are working on road communication development programmes under the Special Work Organisation (SWO) in CHT under 18 projects for development of 462.30km road at a cost of about Tk 39 crore.
ECB-16 is playing the pivotal role in implementing the road development projects that cover roads connecting Chittagong with three hill districts and other inter-district roads.
Works under the projects are expected to be complete before the stipulated time in 2009, ECBs sources said, adding that two-thirds of the important project on widening and development of Chittagong-Rangamati road has already been complete.
Seventy percent work of 428 feet long Ranirhat bridge on Chittagong-Rangamati road is also complete.
ECB-16 is also implementing 'town beautification projects' in Rangamati with the financial assistance from concerned departments to promote tourism there.
ECB-17 and ECB -19 are working for implementation of road development projects in Bandarban and Khagrachhari districts.
Development of road communication will ease marketing of agricultural products from the remote hilly areas.
Earlier huge amount of money were spent by different government departments for development of road communication in the CHT region but expected results could not be achieved allegedly due to corruption.
Meanwhile, the works of Baghaichhari-Naniarchar-Longudu and Rajsthali-Farua- Barkal roads are now suspended due to unavailability of funds from the government, sources said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments