CHATTOGRAM: Work on the construction of a bus-truck terminal and the digging of a new canal start next month to address the port city's perennial gridlock and waterlogging.
The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is implementing the two projects at Tk 15.53-billion project.
Waterlogging and congestion here are the two major problems that cause untold sufferings to citizens.
To ease sufferings, the corporation took the projects which were approved in the second quarter of the current fiscal year.
The canal project was undertaken at the cost of Tk 12.56 billion while the bus-truck terminal for intercity and Rangamati and Khagrachhari transport at Tk 2.97 billion.
CCC Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin on Thursday visited the proposed terminal site in Kulgaon-Baluchara area, on the northern outskirts of the city.
After his visit, Mr Nasir said the modern station would be built on 16 acres of land.
Eight acres of land have already been acquired while the rest by this month, he added.
The city father said environmental clearance would also be available this month.
Engineers have started preparing documents and tender for the terminal would be floated in February.
Under the project, Tk 2.6 billion will be spent for land acquisition.
A total of Tk 250 million and Tk 75 million will be used for yard construction with drainage facility and infrastructure development and truck and passenger bus lanes respectively.
As per the development project profile, Mr Nasir said, digging from Chaktai canal point at Bahaddarhat Baroipara to Karnaphuli river near Bolirhat would start soon.
The canal will be 2.9-kilometre long and 65-feet wide. The low-lying area will have canal-side roads on both sides.
The roads will be 20-feet wide to facilitate internal transportation system.
The mayor urged the residents to endure sufferings during road cutting on the project sites for better livelihood in future.
He pledged to fulfil most of his election manifesto to present the people with a new city by 2020.
