Ctg businesses lose 50% sales to expressway construction chaos | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Ctg businesses lose 50% sales to expressway construction chaos

Driving speed on Lalkhan Bazar-Patenga road now slides to almost walking speed
Ctg businesses lose 50% sales to expressway construction chaos

Economy

Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury
25 September, 2021, 11:00 am
Last modified: 25 September, 2021, 03:47 pm

Related News

  • Disremembering woman’s body: Husband arrested in Ctg
  • Swechchhasebak League leader found dead in Ctg
  • Three-year-old child dies after falling into open drain in Chattogram
  • 3 restaurants, 2 pharmacies in Chattogram fined Tk76,000 for consumer rights violations
  • Navy chief visits Ctg port's NCT, emphasises efficiency and discipline

Ctg businesses lose 50% sales to expressway construction chaos

Driving speed on Lalkhan Bazar-Patenga road now slides to almost walking speed

Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury
25 September, 2021, 11:00 am
Last modified: 25 September, 2021, 03:47 pm

Café Zamzam had been doing well. Sales would hover around Tk30,000 per day on average until work on the elevated expressway began in 2019. The eatery business beside the main road in Chattogram EPZ area was on a gradual fall as it started paying a price for the development. 

Construction chaos and gridlocks coupled with dust in the dry season and mud during the monsoon drove away diners, said Manzur Alam, the restaurant owner.

However, Alam had been trying to stay afloat even as his losses mounted. After incurring around Tk12 lakh in losses, he gave up in May this year, and turned into a small vendor selling cigarettes and betel leaves.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Like his restaurant, businesses on at least 11 points by the construction site of the Chattogram Elevated Expressway connecting Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga have been struggling with losses. Their sales have dropped by 50%-60%.      

Traders said their customers shy away due to frequent gridlocks, prompted by the overhead expressway work on the 16.5 kilometre major transportation artery in the port city.

"A major portion of the road is blocked due to the ongoing construction work. I am worried whether I will be able to survive the business slump," said Rafiqul Islam, owner of the motor parts shop Ohi Wheel Collection in Chattogram's Chaumuhani area.

Mohammad Milon, manager of Hazrat Sadek Shah Furniture Mart in the EPZ area, said he has not been able to sell a single product since 18 September.

"The monthly sales were Tk1 lakh. Along with the pandemic, the disorderly construction has immensely affected us," said Milon.

The air surrounding the Airport Road in Chattogram is filled with dust. The photo was taken recently. Photo: TBS
The air surrounding the Airport Road in Chattogram is filled with dust. The photo was taken recently. Photo: TBS

Bumpy ride

Amid the ongoing construction, the existing route has developed countless puddles and cracks, causing a bumpy ride in the midst of the regular traffic flow.

The route connects a number of trade and business hubs such as Agrabad, Chattogram port, Customs House, Chattogram EPZ, Karnaphuli EPZ, and six private off-docks.

About 50,000 vehicles ply the road every day, while nearly 4 lakh workers take the route to go to Chattogram and Karnaphuli EPZs and return home.

Mahfuzur Rahman, executive engineer at the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and director of the Elevated Expressway project, said there is no separate allocation to repair the road at the project site.

Aminul Haque Babu, a local rights activist, said it is very normal that development works will cause some inconveniences. But total inaction in dealing with the woes of the public is unacceptable.   

The air surrounding the Airport Road in Chattogram is filled with dust. The photo was taken recently. Photo: TBS
The air surrounding the Airport Road in Chattogram is filled with dust. The photo was taken recently. Photo: TBS

Driving speed close to walking speed

A trip from Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga — roughly a 16.5 kilometre stretch — now takes two and a half hours, which means the average driving speed is around only 6.6 kilometres per hour.

In the absence of significant external factors, people tend to walk 5 kilometre per hour.   

Md Tawshir, an eighth grader at Bangladesh Navy School and College in the EPZ area, said, "I could previously reach the school from Chattogram Port Colony within 30 minutes. Now it takes more than an hour."

Many people miss flights every day due to the delay caused on the road and unruly traffic prompted by the construction.

According to the project officials, the 16.5 kilometre patch will take only 15 to 20 minutes to be covered once the project is completed.   

According to CDA sources, the Tk3,250 crore Elevated Expressway Project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting on 11 July 2017. The project deadline was three years.

The air surrounding the Airport Road in Chattogram is filled with dust. The photo was taken recently. Photo: TBS
The air surrounding the Airport Road in Chattogram is filled with dust. The photo was taken recently. Photo: TBS

However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the work on 24 February 2019. The CDA project is being implemented by Max-Rankin joint venture.

Mahbubul Alam, president of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "The poor condition of businesses by the elevated expressway project is very unfortunate. If this situation is prolonged, traders will face an existential crisis. The work needs to be completed quickly."

Project Director Mahfuzur Rahman has said 60% of the work on the expressway has already been completed, and that the project is expected to be completed by June 2023. 

Bangladesh / Top News / Infrastructure

Chattogram / expressway / construction / constructions / Construction sites / Chattogram EPZ

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Bangladesh and US hold tariff talks on 11 July 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Two countries yet to agree on 20% of US tariff conditions: BGMEA
  • RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman speaks at the press briefing on a fake bomb threat on Biman Bangladesh flight on Saturday, 12 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Mother faked bomb threat on Biman flight to stop married son from flying to Kathmandu with girlfriend: RAB
  • Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna and other leaders of BNP's affiliate wings at a press conference at Nayapaltan office in Dhaka on Saturday. Photo: TBS
    Mitford murder: Jubo Dal accuses police of intentional neglect, demands arrest of ‘3 real killers’

MOST VIEWED

  • Representational image
    In addition to 35% tariff, US demands 40% local value addition for 'Made in Bangladesh' goods
  • Screengrab blurred
    Killers bash in head of man with rock, stomp body with perverse pleasure
  • How tender rules and a lone bidder stall a $2.5b power plant
    How tender rules and a lone bidder stall a $2.5b power plant
  • Economist Abul Barkat; Photo: Courtesy
    Economist Abul Barkat arrested in graft case
  • Photo: UNB
    WHO's Saima Wazed Putul 'placed on indefinite leave' amid corruption allegations: Health Policy Watch
  • After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients
    After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

Related News

  • Disremembering woman’s body: Husband arrested in Ctg
  • Swechchhasebak League leader found dead in Ctg
  • Three-year-old child dies after falling into open drain in Chattogram
  • 3 restaurants, 2 pharmacies in Chattogram fined Tk76,000 for consumer rights violations
  • Navy chief visits Ctg port's NCT, emphasises efficiency and discipline

Features

After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

20h | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

1d | The Big Picture
Illustration: TBS

Behind closed doors: Why women in Bangladesh stay in abusive marriages

1d | Panorama
Purbachl’s 144-acre Sal forest is an essential part of the area’s biodiversity. Within it, 128 species of plants and 74 species of animals — many of them endangered — have been identified. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

A forest saved: Inside the restoration of Purbachal's last Sal grove

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Air India crash: What happened before the plane crashed?

Air India crash: What happened before the plane crashed?

Now | TBS World
Home Affairs Advisor calls on everyone to come forward and stop violence

Home Affairs Advisor calls on everyone to come forward and stop violence

1h | TBS Today
More than a thousand layoffs at once in US government agencies

More than a thousand layoffs at once in US government agencies

2h | TBS World
Bangladesh-US tariff talks unresolved

Bangladesh-US tariff talks unresolved

3h | TBS Stories
The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2025 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab