Chattogram Bureau :
Monorail project is going to bring a revolutionary change in the public transport sector of Chattogram city. Through this project, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain is dreaming of making Chattogram a gateway to South Asia.
Speaking as the chief guest at a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony to launch a monorail in the city on Sunday (June 1), the mayor said, ‘My one and only effort was – how to make this port city beautiful and planned and how to reduce traffic jams.
We have taken many initiatives including coordination with the traffic department, launching a smart traffic system, and building a new bus terminal. However, the monorail will be an effective solution to these problems.
“Mayor said that the total length of the proposed monorail project will be about 54 kilometers and an investment of about 20 thousand to 25 thousand crore taka will be made in it.
The entire financing will be provided by foreign investment companies – Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors. He said, “CCC will not have any financial responsibility for this investment. We will only provide the necessary logistical support and land allocation.”
He said, “This monorail will not only help reduce traffic congestion, but will also move forward in transforming Chattogram into an environment-friendly, tourism-friendly and business-friendly city.
It will create a modern bridge connecting with South Asia, The Mayor said, adding: “I want to utilize the potential of Chattogram as a tourism city.” This monorail project will take us a long way towards its implementation.”At this time, the mayor also emphasized on upgrading Chattogram Airport to international standards.
Meanwhile, Chief Representative of Arab Contractors and Orascom Peninsula Consortium, Kausar Alam Chowdhury, highlighted the financing, technology and implementation structure of the monorail project. He said, “We are interested in making full investment in this project.” He said, the project will be implemented in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The investment will come through NAS Investment and the National Bank of Egypt. The three possible routes of the project are:
Line 1 (26.5 km): From Kalurghat to the airport (via Bahaddarhat, Chawkbazar, Lalkhan Bazar, Dewanhat and Patenga) Line 2 (13.5 km): From City Gate to Shaheed Bashiruzzaman Square (via A.K. Khan, Nimtali, Sadarghat and Firingi Bazar). Line 3 (14.5 km): From Oxygen to Firingi Bazar (via Muradpur, Panchlaish, Andarkilla and Kotwali) He said, “The revenue from the monorail will come not only from tickets, but also from advertisements, shops at the station, and increase in property values in the vicinity. If a good public transport system can be developed, economic returns of up to 5-7 times can be obtained.”
The event was also attended by CCC Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam, Chief Revenue Officer Sarwar Kamal, Member Secretary of the Greater Chattogram Economic Forum Nazir Shahin and other concerned officials.
