3rd alignment finalised for BD, Myanmar border road
Munima Sultana | Wednesday, 26 February 2014
The government has finalised the alignment of the Balukhali-Gundhum border road that will connect Bangladesh and Mynmar in order to establish regional connectivity through its link with the Asian Highway and the BCIM.
The special works department of Bangladesh Army has conducted the survey on Ukhiya-Naikhongchhori to establish the border road in September and recommended the third option of the two alignments for the construction of the road.
The Balukhali-Gundhum road is known as a 'missing link' in the task of establishing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border road, which will help the country in getting connected with the Asian Highway and Bangladesh China, India and Mynmar (BCIM) up to Kunming in China.
Officials said the ministry of communications recently had held a number of meetings to discuss all the three options and finalised the third alignment for having easy access and for low cost of construction.
The third alignment has smoother curves than the two others and its operating cost and fuel cost will also be lower, they added.
The survey found that the first alignment of the Balukhali-Gundhum border road will require 21.73 acres of land, while the second option 24.33 acres of land. The third alignment, however, is considered cost-effective as it needs 21.93 acres of land.
The lengths of the first two alignments are 1.7 kilometres (km) and 1.82 km, while the third one has a length of 1.64 km.
Officials said the ministry concerned has already informed the SWO about its decision and directed it to place all related information including demand of land and compensation needed for the road by preparing the development project proposal.
Bangladesh and Myanmar, with over 200km common border, have agreed to establish direct road link in 2007, under which 23km road from Taungbro to Bawlibazar in Myanmar will be constructed by armies of both countries. But the border area has a number of tunnels and bridges through hilly terrains, which will be made of international standard after the construction of the 'missing link'.