Consultant appointment proposal still awaiting ministry approval

CHATTOGRAM, July 17: The Roads and Highways Department has selected a Japanese firm, NIPPON KOYI, as a consultant for the construction of four by-passes and one flyover over 26km on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway, which was submitted to the Ministry of Roads and Communications four months ago and is still awaiting approval. This proposal was submitted in March last.

Earlier, the evaluations report of the three foreign selected joint venture firms for appointment of a consultant had been completed.

After approval by the Ministry, the RHD will go to appoint the Japanese firm NIPPON KOOYI as a consultant, said Project Director Shyamol Bhattacharya.

The appointed consultant will prepare a detailed design of the project accompanied by the invitation of tender, he added. Then the tender will be floated for appointment of the contractor.

Meanwhile, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the proposal for construction of Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway Improvement Project for building four by-pass roads and one flyover. The ECNEC approved the project with Tk 8,556.17 crore in 2023 last.

Meanwhile, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had conducted a feasibility study. According to the feasibility study report four bypasses and a flyover should be constructed to rid the road of five major bottlenecks.

According to the report, there will be the 5.4km long Patiya bypass, 3.3 km Dohazari bypass, 5.1 km Lohagara bypass, 6.8 km Chakaria bypass, and 3.5 km Keranihat flyover. The bypasses will be four lanes with a 2.5metre wide breakdown lane on each side and the flyover will be six lanes. The government is working to improve traffic flow on Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway as congestion and crashes are becoming increasingly common due to heavy traffic. The government has been trying to rid the highway of bottlenecks within the next few years because the number of vehicles will significantly rise once the Matarbari Deep Sea Port in Maheshkhali comes into operation in 2026.