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Rangamati plans new hanging bridge, cable car services

Published : Saturday, 17 October, 2026 at 10:38 AM

Observer Correspondent

Collected Photo

Rangamati plans to build a three-way hanging bridge over Kaptai Lake and install cable cars on three hills to boost tourism in the hill district. Feasibility studies for the proposed bridge are underway, while the plans for the cable cars aim to offer visitors new ways to enjoy the area's natural beauty.

Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Dipan Talukdar Dipu disclosed the plans. Discussions have already been held with the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation over construction of the new bridge.

The hills, Kaptai Lake and the hanging bridge are closely linked to Rangamati's identity. Located over Kaptai Lake in the Tabalchhari area of the district town, the existing bridge has long been a major attraction for local and foreign tourists. Thousands of visitors come to see its distinctive design and enjoy the surrounding natural scenery every year.

However, during the monsoon, heavy rainfall and water flowing down from upstream hills often raise the lake's water level, submerging the lower section of the bridge. As a result, authorities have to suspend pedestrian access. Tourists and tourism-related businesses have long called for a higher bridge to address the problem.

The proposed three-way hanging bridge is intended to address this issue and create a new attraction for visitors.

“We have held a meeting with the Tourism Corporation on the matter. We discussed possible designs, construction methods, costs and different aspects of implementation. A feasibility study is now underway,” Dipu said.

He added that the final design, estimated cost and construction timeline had not yet been determined.

Alongside the bridge, plans have been drawn up to install cable cars on three hills: Furomon Hill in Rangamati Sadar upazila, Subalong Hill in Barkal upazila and Ram-Sita Hill in Kaptai upazila.

If implemented, the cable cars would allow tourists to travel above the hills and enjoy views of Kaptai Lake and the surrounding landscape. The facilities could add new attractions to Rangamati's tourism sector and encourage visitors to stay longer.

Rangamati Press Club President and tourism researcher Anwar Al Haque said the government of the time declared Rangamati a tourism city in the 1980s. However, the district has yet to develop into a fully fledged tourism city despite the passage of several decades.

He praised the current district council chairman's initiatives to develop the tourism sector, saying their implementation could strengthen the industry and unlock the area's tourism potential.

Observers have also said the proposed bridge and cable car projects could significantly improve Rangamati's tourism infrastructure. However, they stressed that environmental balance, hill stability, the natural flow of the lake, tourist safety and transport facilities must receive priority during implementation.

Rangamati's main attractions are its hills, lake and natural beauty. Planned development that protects the environment could open up new opportunities for the district's tourism industry, they said.

The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation built the existing 335-foot-long hanging bridge in the Tabalchhari area of Rangamati town in 1986. Supported by two pillars between two hills, the bridge can be viewed while travelling by both land and water. It has long been known as the “Symbol of Rangamati” and remains one of the district's leading tourist attractions.

-EM