CDA plans again to offer lucrative plots

Amid the growing demand for plots and flats in the port city of Chittagong, the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has planned to come up with over 2,250 plots under two new projects after a long holdup, reports UNB. The CDA has already finalised one of the projects while another is awaiting approval, reviving the hope among the frustrated city dwellers as there has been no such project under the present Awami League-led grand alliance government. The projects are second phase Silimpur CDA Residential Area Project, one of the first residential areas developed by the CDA outside city area in Fouzdarhat, and Fateyabad New Township. "Silimpur project is ready for inviting applications. We hope the applications will be invited by this month," CDA Chairman Abdus Salam told the news agency Thursday. Responding to a query, he said some 250 plots will be on offer at Tk 1.0 million per katha, a price fixed by the government. "There'll be three types of plots - 5-katha, 4-katha and 3-katha ones. Each applicant will have to pay Tk 0.3 million as security money to apply for a plot," he added. There was a legal battle over 30 acres in Silimpur area, and the land has ultimately come under CDA control recently, and the CDA now has planned to allot 250 plots. Sources at the CDA said the price of the Silimpur plots has been fixed by the ministry concerned and the CDA had no involvement in it. The CDA will only implement the project, they added. The first phase of Silimpur Residential Area was built on around 196 acres creating over 1,200 plots. The plots were allotted in 1979, 1987 and 2002. The CDA has prepared a Detailed Project Proposal (DPP) for the project with 300 to 350 acres of land. "The proposal has been sent to the ministry concerned. We haven't yet got the feedback from the ministry. So, it's yet to be finalised," said the CDA Chairman. Once approved, the CDA will be able to allot over 2,000 plots for the city dwellers, said a CDA official preferring anonymity. However, the CDA chairman said he is optimistic of implementing the project within his tenure which expires in April next. According to the CDA sources, it has another 10 acres in the city's Chowmohoni area and the CDA has a plan to allot plots of it once the legal issue is settled. The CDA allotted some 1,400 plots under its largest-ever residential project - Ananya Residential Area developed on 174 acres beside the under-construction Oxygen-Quaish Road in 2008. Before that in 2004 and 2006, the CDA implemented Kolpolok first and second phase residential projects. Meanwhile, the CDA implemented Chandgaon R/A, Chandrima R/A, and Katalganj R/A.