C T Online Desk: The authorities are planning to develop a metro rail network in Chattogram in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s orders, but an under-construction elevated expressway and a flyover threaten to throw spanners in the works.
A feasibility study two and a half years ago had also flagged the expressway, stretching from Shah Amanat International Airport to Lalkhan Bazar, and the Akhtaruzzaman flyover as potential obstacles to the metro rail plans.
Engineers have suggested a proper feasibility study and careful planning before taking on such an expensive project.
They have also emphasised keeping the areas on the outskirts of the port city, especially industrially developed ones, on the metro rail route to enable swift commuting.
Officials will sit at the local government ministry on Jan 13 to discuss the metro rail plan in Chattogram. “The decisions taken in the meeting will set the next course of action,” said Rafiqul Islam, chief engineer at Chattogram City Corporation.
The city corporation had submitted a proposal for a detailed feasibility study to the ministry about a month ago. Rafiqul said the proposal was based on the previous study.
The study had suggested setting up the metro rail tracks over or under the elevated expressway. “It was a good proposal, but it cannot be done now because the construction of the expressway has made a lot of progress,” said Rafiqul.
Subhash Barua, an engineer who has worked closely on numerous development projects in the port city, said they had repeatedly asked the government to carefully chalk out plans for bus rapid transit (BRT) or mass rapid transit (MRT) to alleviate traffic congestion in the city, but the authorities did not heed their advice.
