Will Ctg's first elevated expressway solve congestion with fewer ramps, experts ask
With the construction of six planned ramps, out of 15, suspended following last year's CDA decision, the effectiveness of the flyover has become a major concern
Chattogram's first elevated expressway, now named Shaheed Wasim Akram Flyover, was envisioned to ease the port city's notorious traffic congestion, but suspension of critical ramps and disagreements surrounding the design and planning processes have led experts to question whether the project will deliver on its promises.
With the construction of six planned ramps, out of 15, suspended following last year's Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) decision, the effectiveness of the flyover has become a major concern.
In addition, opposition from various groups has created complications for the implementing agency – CDA – regarding the construction of the ramp at the busy GEC intersection of the port city.
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Experts believe that without adequate ramps based on proper surveys, accessibility to the elevated expressway will decrease, depriving people of the benefits of the 15-kilometer flyover built at a cost of approximately Tk4,299 crore.
However, there is an opposing view among experts as well, as the ramp design itself was not based on feasibility studies.
According to the CDA, the elevated expressway connecting the city's Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga was planned to include 15 ramps for entry and exit. These include four ramps in Agrabad, two each in Tiger Pass, Nimtala, CEPZ, and KEPZ areas, and one each at GEC Intersection, Fakirhat, and Cement Crossing.
However, at the first meeting of the CDA's newly formed board on 28 October last year, the agency decided to suspend the construction of six ramps, regarding them as "unplanned" and citing reasons such as increased traffic congestion and cost reduction.
Impacts of ramp suspension
As per the current plan, commuters heading from Patenga to Lalkhan Bazar, will be able to exit at Nimtala, Tiger Pass (Ambagan Road), and Lalkhan Bazar. Those travelling in the same direction can enter the flyover midway through KEPZ, CEPZ, and Nimtala.
On the other hand, passengers heading from Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga can directly access the expressway via the Akhtaruzzaman Flyover at Gate No 2 and Muradpur. Additionally, there will be access points at the GEC and Agrabad Debarpar ramps. Commuters travelling in the same direction can exit at Fakirhat, CEPZ, and Patenga.
The expressway is not just for traveling between Lalkhan Bazar and Patenga; it was designed for people's daily commutes. Without the planned ramps, people won't fully benefit, and traffic congestion will persist below the flyover…Without enough access points, fewer vehicles will use it. This could become another loss-making project like the Karnaphuli Tunnel.
According to stakeholders, if the ramp connecting Mohammad Yusuf Chowdhury Road at Tiger Pass to the main Pologround Bridge of the expressway is not constructed, vehicles from Kotwali, New Market, Riazuddin Bazar, Khatunganj, Asadganj, Chawkbazar, and Sadarghat will have to travel six to seven kilometres further to access the expressway via Agrabad Debarpar.
Stakeholders argue that this will fail to alleviate traffic congestion as intended.
Moreover, the suspension of three ramps – one for exiting the expressway in front of the Ethnological Museum in Agrabad and two for access on Agrabad Access Road – will deprive residents of Halishahar, Agrabad commercial area, Dewanhat, and Double Mooring from enjoying any benefits, they added.
They further said the industries linked to the export processing zone (EPZ) will miss out on the benefits unless a ramp is constructed to connect it directly with the main expressway, also noting that a proposed ramp at Cement Crossing, intended for use on land owned by the Navy, has also been put on hold.
Objections surrounding GEC ramp
Meanwhile, the planned ramp at the GEC intersection has faced resistance from various quarters, including Chattogram City Mayor Shahadat Hossain.
On 18 December, the mayor, along with students, businesspeople, and professionals, opposed the construction during a traffic management meeting, alleging that the ramp is being constructed to benefit commuters heading for The Peninsula Hotel, a family-owned business of Awami League presidium member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain.
At the meeting, he firmly stated that it (the construction) will not be allowed.
However, CDA officials refuted these claims.
They further claimed that Engineer Mosharraf himself opposed the construction of the GEC ramp and the disagreement reportedly led to a strained relationship between him and the then-chairman of the CDA.
They said if the GEC ramp is not built, there will be no alternative routes to access the expressway other than through the Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Flyover's Bayazid Bostami Road end and the Muradpur's Mohammadpur end. As a result, residents from areas like Khulshi, Pahartali, and Nasirabad will be deprived of the benefits of the expressway.
Project Director and CDA Executive Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman told The Business Standard, "The CDA chairman and board members have decided to halt the construction of six ramps after thorough review. These can be constructed in the future if needed. However, we have not received any directives to stop the construction of the GEC ramp."
Questions over efficiency, feasibility and planning
Talking on the matter, Mahmud Omar Imam, a civil engineering professor at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet), told TBS, "Without sufficient ramps, the effectiveness of the expressway will diminish. People from nearby areas will have to travel long distances to access it."
Jahangir Alam, former vice-chancellor of Cuet and a civil engineering professor, expressed similar concerns, noting that the absence of adequate ramps would deter traffic from using the expressway.
He told TBS, "The expressway is not just for travelling between Lalkhan Bazar and Patenga; it was designed for people's daily commutes. Without the planned ramps, people won't fully benefit, and traffic congestion will persist below the flyover."
"Without enough access points, fewer vehicles will use it which will make covering not only construction costs but even maintenance expenses difficult," he said, adding "This could become another loss-making project like the Karnaphuli Tunnel."
He opined that excluding the ramps without proper reassessment was not the right decision.
Experts have also claimed that the feasibility study for the expressway project was not properly followed.
Cuet's Bureau of Research, Testing, and Consultation, in a study, had recommended 16 ramps across the city – two each at key locations such as WASA, Tiger Pass, Barik Building, Nimtoli, Custom House, CEPZ, Cement Crossing, and Kathgarh.
However, the CDA did not adhere to these recommendations.
Jerina Hossain, general secretary of Forum for Planned Chittagong, a new CDA board member, and urban planner, told TBS, "The project has been unplanned from the very beginning. Neither strategic nor engineering processes were properly followed."
"There is no study on critical aspects such as what percentage of people will use the ramps, where they will access them, who will use the expressway above, who will travel below, or the overall impact of these factors," she added.
Cuet Prof Mahmud Omar claimed that though plans are taken from them, even when complications arise, they are not executed properly.
Delays and budget overruns
According to CDA data, the cost of the project, initially approved in 2017, was revised five years later, increasing by Tk1,048 crore to a total of Tk 4,298.95 crore.
The three-year project was initially scheduled for completion by June 2020. However, the lack of consultation with other agencies and stakeholders during the design phase led to objections from various organisations.
Additionally, complications arose due to the absence of coordination with the traffic department.
Frequent design changes, the addition of new structures, and delays in completion caused a significant increase in project costs.
Although the expressway was inaugurated in November 2023, trial operations began in August 2024, with toll collection starting yesterday.
