CHITTAGONG, May 16: The Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) is going to construct a 5.2 km long flyover, the longest in the port city, at an estimated cost of Tk 4,622.30 million.
The government will pay Tk 4372.96 million while the CDA will pay Tk 250 million for construction of the flyover, according to the project summary. The big project will be implemented by the CDA by June, 2016.
The Muradpur-Lalkhan Bazar flyover is the revised version of the earlier three separate flyover projects, formally opened by the Prime Minister on October 12 last. Sheikh Hasina formally laid foundation of three flyovers to be constructed at Muradpur, Sholoshahar Rail Gate No 2 and the GEC intersection on the CDA Avenue during opening of the Bahaddarhat Flyover on October 12 last.
But the projects later were dropped and instead, the CDA undertook one flyover project linking Muradpur, Sholashahar Rail Gate and the GEC intersection.
Justifying necessity of the revised project, the CDA said Chittagong, a commercial hub, was rapidly growing as a megapolis of the country. It is witnessing increased economic activities generated by the trade, commerce, industry, port, tourism and the international airport.
"Bangladesh government is actively considering regional and international transit traffic through Chittagong Port and building of deep-sea port at Moheshkhali. On this ground the city's transport network is already crippled with nagging traffic congestions," it said.
Considering the whole perspective and presence of non-motorised vehicles, the earlier proposals for three flyovers at Muradpur, Rail Gate No 2 and the GEC junction have now been revised to build one flyover linking the three junctions.
The Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultancy (BRTC) of the Department of Civil Engineering of Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET) said, "The project is not in conflict with Chittagong Metropolitan Transport Planning. But there was no interaction with the CMP (Chittagong Metropolitan Police), BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority), local bus owners association and the inter-city bus owners association.
Project Engineer of the CDA Mahfuzur Rahman told the FE that as per the tender schedule, four companies submitted sealed tenders for the project. The Bangladeshi-Chinese joint venture Max-Renken emerged the lowest bidder among the four pre-qualified bidders.
Max-Renken JV quoted the price at Tk 4531.58 million, Abdul Monem Ltd Tk. 5973.46 million. Simplex-Navana JV Ltd, a joint venture of Bangladesh and India, quoted the price at Tk 6122.23 million and Mir Akter Hossain Ltd, which constructed the Bahaddahat Flyover, quoted it at Tk 4620.54 million.
The tenders were opened at the conference room of the CDA Thursday. CDA Chairman Abdus Salam said transparency had been maintained all through till opening of the tenders.
Chief Engineer of CDA Jashim Uddin Chowdhury, superintending engineer-1 Kazi Hasan Bin Shams, PD of the project Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman, other engineers and representatives of the bidders were present during the tender opening.
