Saturday, March 16, 2024
The forthcoming border road winding through the hilly districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban is anticipated to revolutionize the landscape of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), local sources reveal.
Primarily aimed at enhancing surveillance and curbing cross-border criminal activities, the twists and turns of the 1,036km road are poised to offer a breathtaking experience for tourists, as stated by locals.
Scheduled for opening in June this year, the initial phase of the road spanning 371km ignites hopes for a revitalized tourism sector centered around its path. Locals affirm that the road will serve as a catalyst for improving people’s livelihoods, revolutionizing local infrastructure encompassing education, healthcare, security, and information technology, and expanding tourism opportunities.
Moreover, it is anticipated that the road will significantly contribute to the production of agricultural and advanced goods in the hilly terrain of Bangladesh.
Constructed by the 16th, 20th, and 26th ad hoc Engineer Construction Battalions under the 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Army Corps of Engineers, the project’s implementation falls under the jurisdiction of the Roads and Highways Division, encompassing the Rajasthali-Bilaichhari-Juracchari and Saichal-Pankatachhara-Majhipara-Dopanichhara regions.
With Bangladesh’s southeastern hill region sharing borders spanning 330km with India and 210km with Myanmar, local traders anticipate a surge in trade and commerce between Bangladesh and India upon the road’s completion. Additionally, improved surveillance along the border is expected to substantially reduce crime and trafficking activities.
Initiated on January 1, 2018, in response to insurgent activities and smuggling along an unguarded 20-kilometer stretch of the hilly border with Myanmar, the road construction project is deemed as mega by ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division.
The first phase, constituting 220km of the road, has witnessed 82% completion, with the remaining 47km slated for construction by June 2024. The estimated cost for the first phase stands at approximately Tk3,800 crore.
Local residents attest to the transformative impact of the road project. Nangolap Tanchangya from Bilaichhari emphasizes the significant reduction in travel time to nearby hospitals, albeit highlighting the road’s perilous nature due to sharp bends.
Mohammad Ali Chalak, a Bangalhalia resident, lauds the improved local connectivity facilitated by the border road, making car travel more accessible.
Colonel Bhuiyan Mohammad Golam Kibria, the project director, assures expedited progress, aiming for 95% completion before the onset of the monsoon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is slated to inaugurate the first phase, paving the way for subsequent phases, signaling the dawn of a new era in the region’s infrastructure development.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
