CDA to spend over Tk1,000cr upgrading two Ctg roads to four lanes

Infograph: TBS

To address worsening traffic congestion in Chattogram, the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) will expand two major city roads from two lanes to four, at a cost of over Tk1,000 crore.

The roads—Mehedibagh Road from Golpahar intersection to Chatteswari intersection and the stretch from Love Lane to Nandan Kanan—span about 2.5km. Both will be widened to 60 feet, with each of the four lanes measuring 12 feet, and the remaining 12 feet allocated for medians and footpaths.

CDA officials said the existing infrastructure is no longer sufficient to handle the city's rising population and growing number of vehicles. Both roads are among the most congested in Chattogram and often experience gridlocks throughout the day.

"These two roads are extremely important. Once upgraded to four lanes, traffic flow in the city will improve significantly," CDA Chief Engineer Kazi Hasan Bin Shams told The Business Standard.

The feasibility study and preliminary work have been completed. Design and Detailed Project Plan preparations are now underway. However, implementation will require demolition of numerous buildings, and because land is expensive in these central areas, 70–80% of the total cost will be spent on acquiring land and carrying out the demolition.

As part of the project, the city will, for the first time, have separate reinforced concrete (RCC) channels built under the roads to hold all utility lines—like electricity, water, gas, cable TV, and internet. This will make maintenance easier and improve the city's appearance. Culverts will also be built over canals where needed.

"We plan to move all utility lines underground, which will serve as a model for the city," said CDA Chief Engineer Shams.

Persistent congestion at Mehedibagh, especially between Golpahar intersection and Chatteswari intersection, causes daily suffering for commuters.

Two large hospitals—Max Hospital and National Hospital—are located on either side of the road, resulting in a regular flow of ambulances, private cars, and patient relatives. Illegal parking and the disorganised movement of rickshaws and CNG-run auto-rickshaws have worsened the problem.

Locals say traffic jams persist from morning to night, and ambulances often get stuck.

Arafat Hossain, a resident of Muradpur, said, "I commute to New Market daily by Bus No. 3 for work. Every day, I lose about 30 to 40 minutes just in the Mehedibagh area. Since there are two hospitals here, widening the road would greatly reduce the suffering."

The Love Lane-Nandan Kanan road faces similar challenges. Used daily by students, professionals, and the general public, this narrow road becomes severely congested during peak hours due to a mix of rickshaws, CNGs, private cars, school buses, and delivery vehicles.

Once a quiet and orderly street, the Love Lane-Nandan Kanan stretch has now become one of the city's busiest. The road also connects to important city hubs like Kazir Dewri, Cheragi intersection, and Laldighi, making it a crucial but heavily burdened route.

The CDA hopes the road upgrades will provide lasting relief from the city's chronic traffic problems.