Chattogram to open third city bus terminal in February after 33 years
Around 60% of the construction has already been completed. The remaining work is expected to be finished by January, allowing the terminal to be ready for public use
Highlights
- Chattogram's third bus terminal in Baluchara may open by February 2026
- 60% of construction completed; full work expected by January
- Terminal will hold 200 buses and trucks, easing pressure on Kadamtoli and Bahaddarhat
- Facilities include AC lounges, Wi-Fi, ticket counters, restaurant, and staff quarters
- Authorities expect reduced traffic congestion and safer parking for northern routes
City authorities have announced that Chattogram's third bus terminal could open to passengers as early as February next year. Coming 33 years after the second terminal, it is expected to ease congestion and improve traffic flow across the city.
The terminal is being constructed under the initiative of Chattogram City Corporation in the Kulgaon-Baluchara area. Around 60% of the construction has already been completed. The remaining work is expected to be finished by January, allowing the terminal to be ready for public use.
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Spread over 8.10 acres, the new terminal will accommodate up to 200 buses and trucks at a time. Once completed, city authorities plan to lease the terminal to generate revenue.
Chattogram's first bus terminal was established in Kadamtoli in 1966, followed by a second one in Bahaddarhat in 1993. For more than three decades, no new city terminal has been built. Today, both Kadamtoli and Bahaddarhat terminals struggle to manage more vehicles than their intended capacity.
The shortage of terminal facilities is particularly acute for northern Chattogram routes. According to the local bus owners' association, 500-600 buses travel daily on the Chattogram-Rangamati highway, serving the northern districts and hill tracts.
The new Baluchara terminal is expected to ease pressure on Bahaddarhat and Kadamtoli. Passengers from Raozan, Hathazari, Fatikchhari, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari will be able to board and alight buses directly from the terminal, significantly reducing waiting times and city traffic congestion.
Authorities also anticipate that keeping large buses out of central city roads will reduce traffic at major points, including Oxygen, Muradpur, Bahaddarhat Mor, Kadamtoli, and GEC.
The project will also address long-standing parking shortages, minimising risks of theft and accidents while bringing relief to transport owners and drivers.
The terminal will feature a three-story passenger building with boarding and waiting lanes, ticket counters, a large hall, and a luggage room. Additional facilities include an information centre, a taxi booking room, a restaurant, and separate toilets for men and women.
Air-conditioned passenger lounges and Wi-Fi will also be available. Offices and accommodations for transport staff are included in the terminal's design.
The National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project in 2018. The budget allocates Tk260 crore for land acquisition, Tk3.37 crore for land development, Tk7.5 crore for infrastructure, and Tk25 crore for yard construction and drainage systems.
CCC Executive Engineer (Civil), Rifatul Karim, said, "About 60% of the yard, drainage, and boundary wall work is complete, while half of the building work has been done. If the remaining work is finished by January, the terminal could open by February."
He added, "Construction started in January last year, but work was halted for five to six months following the 2024 uprising. After the new mayor took office, construction resumed."
Md Shahjahan, Organising Secretary of the Chattogram-Nazirhat-Khagrachhari Bus-Minibus Owners' Association, said, "Over 500 buses operate daily on northern routes. Without a permanent terminal, many buses park on roadsides, causing traffic jams, fuel theft, and accidents. The new terminal will reduce these issues significantly."
He added, "If passengers receive safe and comfortable services at this modern terminal, it will bring positive changes to the city's transport system."
With the completion of the Baluchara terminal, authorities hope to bring lasting relief to Chattogram's transport sector. Passengers can look forward to safer, more convenient travel, while drivers and transport operators gain a well-organised facility.
City planners also anticipate that the terminal will help modernise the city's overall traffic management and set a precedent for future infrastructure projects aimed at improving urban mobility.
