The Crime Desk: It was said that if the Karnaphuli Tunnel is launched, the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar distance will be reduced by 55 kilometers. The PAB Taitung Road to reduce the distance has been filed for a year. No one can say when the 56-kilometer road from the Anwara Kalabibi Dighi intersection of the tunnel connection road to Chakaria will be built, or whether it will be built at all. Eminent people believe that if the project is implemented, the economic zone plan will see the light of day along with the actual success of the tunnel project.
The 56-kilometer Taitung Road project from the tunnel road to the Cox’s Bazar main road was adopted as a plan to increase vehicle traffic in the tunnel, expand trade and commerce in South Chittagong, improve the communication system, and build an economic network up to Cox’s Bazar. But the project has been filed in the ministry for the past 1 year awaiting approval. Since it was not approved on time, the road system in South Chittagong, including increasing vehicle traffic in the tunnel, is still lagging behind. The locals want to see the implementation of the project very soon. If this mega project is implemented, the 56-km road from Kala Bibi Dighi in Anwara to Chakaria will be raised from 18 feet to 34 feet, and the potential of the economic zone to Cox’s Bazar through the tunnel will be further accelerated. And as an alternative road to the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway, the passengers will benefit, and the distance between Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar will be reduced, according to those concerned.
According to the Chittagong South Road Division and local sources, the target of implementing the Patiya-Anowara-Baanshkhali-Taitong road development project at a cost of 12 billion taka was sent to the concerned ministry a year ago. If everything goes well, the work on the project was supposed to start in 2025. But after the change of government on August 5, the development work of most of the projects has been affected considering the overall economic situation, including looting, money laundering, and inflation in the name of development projects during the previous government’s tenure. In addition, the current government is also reviewing various aspects of the projects undertaken during the previous government’s tenure. Due to which the project is still awaiting approval from the ministry.
If the project is implemented, it is expected that it will act as a major milestone in the road communication system with Anwara, Banshkhali, Chakaria, and Cox’s Bazar in South Chittagong. Along with this, millions of people in South Chittagong will benefit from the transportation system. The use of the tunnel will increase, and the authorities will also be able to reduce losses by collecting tolls.
Chittagong South Road Division sources also learned that the Patiya-Anwara-Banishkhali-Taitong Road Development Mega Project was taken up at a cost of Tk 12 billion to expand the road network system in South Chittagong around the tunnel. The project was sent to the concerned department in January this year for implementation and approval. Although the tender process was supposed to be held after the approval of the project in the last financial year, it has not been approved yet due to the changing political context of the country.
Currently, there is 100 feet of land acquisition on the PAB-Taitong road from the Anwara Kala Bibi Dighi intersection to Chanpur Bazar in Pukuria Union of Banshkhali Upazila. The road from Chanpur Bazar to Chakaria is only 18 feet wide. Due to which people of various upazilas of South Chittagong have to suffer while traveling. As the road is not wide enough for vehicle movement, traffic jams and road accidents are common here.
Pintu Chakma, executive engineer of Chittagong South Road Division, said that as part of the revolutionary development plan for the road communication network in South Chittagong around the tunnel, including the development of the communication system, expansion of trade and commerce, and the development of the communication system, the proposal for the Patiya-Anowara-Baanshkhali-Taitong Road Development Project at a cost of 12 billion taka has been sent to the concerned ministry for approval. The project is currently awaiting approval. Through this project, the 56 km road from the Kalabibi Dighi intersection of Patiya-Anowara-Baanshkhali-Taitong Road to Chakaria will be upgraded from 18 feet to 34 feet. If this is implemented, traffic jams and accidents on this road will be reduced to a large extent. Millions of people will benefit from the connectivity. It will act as a milestone in the connectivity system as an alternative road between Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong.
