The development work of Chattogram-Cox's Bazar road corridor is likely to be delayed as the authorities concerned have changed their minds to develop the existing two-lane road into a four-lane one first.
The existing road is needed to be upgraded within the next 3-4 years as the Matarbari seaport is expected to start its operation by then, increasing the traffic pressure substantially, said a senior official.
On the other hand, he said, development of the planned 160-kilometre corridor under public-private partnership (PPP) model would take much longer time after the under-construction seaport becoming operational.
"Development of a road under a PPP model is time consuming," said the official at Planning Section of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB).
The ministry had taken the 160km corridor project as the Japanese investors selected it for investment under a government-to-government PPP model.
Sources said the ministry was now considering developing the other corridor also under the PPP model which is expected to get importance after inauguration of the Bangabandhu Karnaphuli Tunnel.
However, they said the revised decision is likely to delay the process of developing the existing highway as it would also require coordination with the other projects.
A project that aims to remove five bottlenecks of the existing road has already made some progress with financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Another project to upgrade the road from Chakaria to Matarbari port is also under construction.
Official sources said the MoRTB has already shared their decision with the PPP Authority (PPPA) and JICA in separate meetings and requested them to keep scope of work in their studies.
The PPPA has already appointed the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) as 'transaction advisor' to conduct the feasibility study on the existing highway to turn it into a PPP road.
Sources said the cargoes expected to arrive through the Matarbari deep seaport will be several times higher than the Chattogram seaport and will be transported through the road network.
They said the rail corridor connecting Chakaria to Matarbari will be developed after completion of the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail link development work.
smuinima@yahoo.com