CDA shelves plan to build five controversial ramps

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 31: At last, the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) has shelved the plan to construct five controversial ramps of Chattogram Elevated Expressway in response to public protests.
Local people had long been staging street demonstrations against the CDA's decision to construct the ramps.
Sources said the five ramps included one connecting the Polo Ground area to Patenga, an exit ramp in front of the Ethnological Museum in Agrabad, two ramps on Agrabad Access Road, and another ramp from the main expressway to the Export Processing Zone.
The CDA faced strong opposition to the construction of a ramp from the double-decker road to the expressway in the Tigerpass area.
Local residents strongly protested in April when the CDA announced plans to cut down trees on Tigerpass Road to construct the ramp.
The Bangladesh Women's Association (BWA) Girls School and College had filed an objection to the construction of the ramp at the school gate in WASA point area on June 3 last.
Sources said that a CDA board meeting held on October 28 decided to shelve the plan to construct five ramps.
Also, the meeting approved allowing motorcycles and CNG auto-rickshaws to use the expressway. Previously, two- and three-wheeler vehicles were banned due to safety concerns, but these restrictions have been lifted following public criticism.
The decisions from the board meeting will be forwarded to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works for final approval.
The construction work on 10 ramps of the expressway would be completed by June 2025, official sources said.

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