Approved mass rapid transit system in Chittagong, Bangladesh
The Chittagong Metro Rail, officially the Chattogram Metro Rail (Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম মেট্রোরেল), is an approved mass rapid transit system intended to serve Chittagong and its adjoining areas. Once completed, the system is expected to ease the evergrowing traffic in the port city. The feasibility study for Chittagong Metro Rail had begun in January 2023 and will last till June 2025.[1] The Chittagong Metro Rail is the country's second rapid transit project, after Dhaka Metro.
History
"Transport Masterplan and Preliminary Feasibility Study for Urban Metrorail Transit Construction in Chittagong Metropolitan Area (CMA)" was officially inaugurated in the Radisson Blu CTG in Chittagong by the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Obaidul Quader in January 2023. The project was initially approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economics on 22 November 2022. Although both China and South Korea had expressed their will to invest in the project, the authorities decided to side with South Korea.[2] The project is being funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency. BDT 13.6258 crores had been provided by the government, whereas BDT 57 crore were provided by KOICA, therefore BDT 70.6258 crore is the overall cost set for the Transport Masterplan and Preliminary Feasibility Study for Urban Metrorail Transit Construction in Chittagong Metropolitan Area (CMA).[3]
Controversy
The members of the Forum for Planned Chattogram (FPC) directly opposed the plan of building a metro rail service in Chittagong. They cited various studies and researches, and instead recommended to build a bus rapid transit system for the city. They said a metro in Chittagong would be expensive to construct, maintain and operate, and they have also expressed concerns about the misuse of resources amid the country's foreign currency crisis.[4]
See also
References
