Chinese firm set to get work

Pankaj Dastider | Published: July 09, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

CHITTAGONG, July 8: Chinese construction firm Max-Renken JV is set to get the contract for construction of the port city's 5200 metres long Muradpur-Lalkhan Bazar flyover.
If constructed, it will be the fourth flyover implemented by the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), but the fifth including the flyover in the port area constructed for transportation of cargo through Chittagong-Dhaka highway avoiding the city's main thoroughfares.
The CDA has already constructed city's Bahaddarhat MA Mannan Flyover and Dewanhat Flyover while the third flyover from the front of Chittagong Railway Station to the Kadamtali inter-district bus station is under construction.
Transport vehicles are avoiding the Bahaddarhat and Dewanhat flyovers as they don't have the entry and exit ramps at Bahaddarhat and Dewanhat junctions which are the most traffic-congested areas on the city's main thoroughfares connecting the eastern entrance of the city to Chittagong International Airport.
Meanwhile, technical evaluation committee of the Muradpur-Lalkhan Bazar Flyover project has recommended offering the physical construction work to the firm after visiting its works of construction of the flyovers and roads in China, project director said.
The technical team that visited China included chief engineer of CDA Jashim Uddin Chowdhury, superintending engineer Kazi Hasan bin Shams, executive engineer and project director Mahfuzur Rahman, Finance and Accounts Officer Md Nazer and chief engineer of Chittagong WASA Abdul Karim Chowdhury.
The recommendations of the technical evaluation committee have been finalised and are being sent to the cabinet committee for purchase in Dhaka for approval following which the work order will be issued to the selected contractor any time next month (August).
Project Director and CDA executive engineer Mahfuzur Rahman said the said flyover will have 3500 meter long four-lane road from Muradpur to WASA, 700 meter two-lane from Sholashahar Gate No 2 to Baizid Bostami junction and entry and exit ramp with the two-lane 1000 meter from Oxygen to GEC Junction.
Max-Renken JV is the lowest bidder among the four firms - two locals and two joint ventures with China and India. Max-Renken quoted Tk 4.53 billion, Abdul Monem Ltd quoted Tk 5.97 billion, Simplex-Navana JV Ltd, a joint venture of India and Bangladesh quoted Tk 6.12 billion and Mir Akter Hossain Ltd quoted Tk 4.62 billion for construction of the project.
The estimated Tk 4.62 billion project will be sourced jointly by the government of Bangladesh and the CDA. The GoB will provide Tk 4.37 billion and the CDA Tk 250 million, sources said.
Initially there were three flyover projects in the same area but the feasibility study conducted by joint venture firm suggested that all three flyover projects be joined together which will bring great benefit to the traffic system.
Justifying the necessity of the revised mega project, the CDA said that Chittagong is the commercial hub, rapidly growing megapolis of the country and this region of eastern subcontinent is thriving with economic activities generated by trade, commerce, industry, port, tourism and international airport.
"Bangladesh government is actively considering regional and international transit traffic through Chittagong Port and building of a mega deep sea port at Moheshkhali. On this ground, the city's transit network is already crippled with nagging traffic congestion," the revised study said.
The revised project has the goal of creating higher capacity with safety and cheaper transport facility for this busy port city to facilitate rapid economic growth of the city residents and the country as a whole.