The design of the elevated expressway under construction of Chittagong Development Authorities (CHOWK) is being changed.Chowk is being force to change the design as it in conflict with two other ongoing projects.The construction of this expressway of the existing design will further increase the traffic congestion in the city.In this situation,it has been decided to change the design.Experts say unplanned urbanization is rampant across the country.This is example.Therefore they are advised to do proper feasibility study in development.
The design was taken at a joint meeting in chowk recently.Because the elevated expressway collides with the approach road of Karnaphuli tunnel and the city outer ring road.The information was obtained from the working paper of the meeting held under the chairmanship of chowk chairman Md.Zohirul Alam.
According to the working paper,Gavin Stard,a representative of the the consulting firms of Karnaphuli Tunnel,said that there is different between the proposed design of the elevated expressway under implementation and the design of Karnaphuli tunnel in front of the Karnaphuli tunnel.It will be difficult to implement on the ground.
In this regard,Harun Aur Rasid,Desh Rupantar,project director if Karnaphuli tunnel,said that there is a possibility of increasing traffic congestion on the G-1 road under cconstruction of the Karnaphuli tunnel at the end of the elevated expressway.Instead,the Karnaphuli tunnel and the airport connecting road should be constructied at convenient place.
He further said the,if the revised design of Karnaphuli tunnel is handed over to the bridge Authority very soon,the bridge authority at the mentioned place may allow the chowk to start wok with a safety fencing.Work on the G-1 road of the tunnel project will be completes within 2 years. Kazi Hassan Bin Shams,chief engineer of the chowk,said that the Outer Ring Road,which is begin implemented,by the chowk,is planned to be open to the public by next December.Therefore the tunnel authorities have to complete the G-1 road by next December.
Kabir Ahmed,a chif engineer if the bridge authority said if the existing design is Worked out,the G-1 road under construction at the Karnaphuli tunnel will increase traffic congestion as it is adjacent to the sea beach.For this we have to change the design.
Mahmudul Hasan khan,chief engineer of the Chittagong Port Development Authority said work on the flyover was begin started with a 12 meter safety fence in the middle of the existing road at saltgola in the city.After weldening the road outside the fancing the part,there is now 25 feet of road for traffic,which is insufficient.There are also electic poles in some places.The width of the road in those places is 19 feet.It is not possible to move two vehicles side by side on the road.In the current situation,the port is likely to beacome unusable if start work on the cement crossing section from soltgola.For this the alignment of the flyover has to be taken out of the existing road.
In response,Kazi Hassan Bin saif that if the layout or alignment from the elevated expressway saltgola to cement crossing is to be taken out of the roads,many buildings will have to demolished and land will have to be acquired.This will increase the project cost,which is no realistic.
Alok Biswas,Additional Commissioner of police in the port of Chittagong Metropolitan Traffic,said the road had beacome impassable.A little rain causes waterlogging.Besides the road has become narrow due to fancing. Therefore the demanged road requested to be carpeted when it rains.Besides in the current context it is not possible to built up a flyover due to traffic congestion.
Khorshid Alam,the General Manager of Chittagong CEPZ,said that there has been a terrible traffic jam from saltgola crossing to kathgarh in recent times.It takes three and a halfs hours to reach EPZ from Redission Blu.It takes two and a halfs hours to reach the airport form EPZ.That is why meeting with buyers and investors are not going to be held many time.This is hampering investment in the garments industry.
Chowk Chairman Md Zahirul Alam Debhas said the end of the elevated expressway under construction will meet at a convenient location on the Karnaphuli tunnel and Shah Amanat Airport Road.Fir this the revised design of the expressway will be submitted to the bridge authority.The bridge authority will then allow the construction of the elevated expressway according to the revised design.
Asked about this,architect Iqbal Habib told Desh Rupantar that unplanned urbanization is rampant across the country. This is his proof.Somehow the project was approved and later amended,which the questioning the development of the county.He said a feasibility study needs to be done properly before taking up deplovment taking up devolepment projects.Otherwise the situation will continue.There will be devolvement,but the person will so that they do not suffer.
