Process to construct new CCC building begins
The dilapidated old building of Chittagong City Corporation. Photo: STAR
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has started the process to construct a new administrative building replacing its century-old building that has been lying in a most dilapidated condition for long. A project has already been taken to construct a 16-storey administrative building replacing the existing three-story building over some 14 kathas of land at Anderkilla in the port city. It is one of the seven priority projects for which CCC kept allocation of Tk 25 crore in its proposed budget for the current fiscal year placed on June 28. CCC, however, before the approval and allocation could be available, has started the first phase of construction work of the 16-storey building with a foundation of 20-storey involving Tk 14 crore on its own. The city corporation floated a tender on July 3 for selling out the old building and engaging a contractor to construct the new building. Following the tender the old building was sold out at Tk 38 lakh and demolition of the old building started on July 24. The tender for appointing contractor was scheduled to be opened on July 28. Project Director CCC Executive Engineer Anwar Hossain said the demolition of the old building is going on in full swing and it might take two more weeks. Anwar told this correspondent on Monday that they expect to appoint a contractor without any delay and start construction of the new building in August. The old building which later served as an annex building of the six-storey new CCC building, developed cracks on almost every wall and ceiling of all the floors where plasters come off frequently. Some 500 CCC officials and employees had been risking their lives everyday while working at offices of revenue, general, conservancy, accounts, law and relief sections housed in the old administrative building that started journey as the office of Chittagong municipality back in 1863. The building also housed offices of workers union and a bank. It reached such a miserable state that plying of any heavy vehicle in the nearby roads forced its floors shake terribly, they said. Though the process for constructing the new building goes on in full swing, CCC is yet to get design of the new building from Chittagong Development Authority (CDA). Anwar said the contractor to be appointed for the construction would work as a consultant and have responsibility for making design and getting it approved from the CDA before starting the construction work. CDA Chief Town planner Shahinul Islam Khan said since demolition does not require any approval the process has so far been within the rules. But as per rules approval would be needed before going for construction of the new building and there is time to get the approval, he said.
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