New master plan for port city to be finalised by next June

June 18: The new master plan for the port city of Chattogram will be finalised by June next year while the draft plan has already been completed by the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA).

CDA official sources said the draft of the 'Chattogram Metropolitan Master Plan', which will focus on developing the city in two parts, has been prepared.

The plan aims to develop the city in two parts, connected by the Bangabandhu Tunnel, and will include features like satellite towns, industrial zones, and improved infrastructure.

Meetings and public hearings will be organised soon with sector-based stakeholders so that an acceptable and sustainable master plan can be formulated based on everyone's opinions, the sources added.

The decision was made at the fourth meeting of the Technical Management Committee of the Master Plan Project held on June 17. The meeting was chaired by CDA Chairman Engineer Md NurulKarim and moderated by Project Director and Deputy Chief Urban Planner of CDA Engineer Md. Abu Isa Ansari.

He presented an introduction on the progress of the project at the meeting.

Engineer Md Abu Isa Ansari said that the project work started in February 2020 and its duration will end in June 2026. The draft final report of the project has already been prepared and submitted.

He further said, "In light of the draft final report, meetings and public hearings will be organised with sector-based stakeholders later, so that an acceptable and sustainable master plan can be formulated based on everyone's opinions."

Sources said the CDA is implementing the project, titled Preparation of Chattogram Metropolitan Master Plan (2020-2041), with an allocated budget of Tk333.2 million (Tk33.32 crore). Data collection for the plan began in June 2022.

The CDA has undertaken the project to transform Chattogram into a modern, developed, and risk-free city, with a particular focus on connecting it to the Mirsarai Economic Zone. The proposed master plan will also incorporate disaster management strategies and the Delta Plan, covering the years 2020 to 2041. For this, the CDA has appointed Data Experts Limited, Tiller, and EGS Joint Venture (datEx-Tiller-EGS JV) as consultants.

Previously, in 1995, the CDA developed a 25-year master plan covering 1996-2020. With the expiry of that plan, the new proposal seeks to learn from its successes and shortcomings, integrating fresh ideas and advanced frameworks. The plan covers an area of approximately 1,152 square kilometres.

Key features of the plan include addressing waterlogging, preserving hills to prevent illegal hill cutting, safeguarding water bodies from encroachment, and creating public amenities such as playgrounds, parks and recreational centres.

These objectives align with the CDA's broader mission to prepare and review master plans, oversee urban development, and exercise planning controls under the government-approved guidelines.

The plan also envisions the development of at least 11 satellite towns and six industrial zones, complemented by updated water supply systems, drainage networks, flood control measures, river management initiatives, and traffic infrastructure.

Inspired by the urban models of Shanghai and Istanbul, the One City, Two Towns concept aims to develop Chattogram into two interconnected urban areas linked by the Karnaphuli Tunnel.

Chattogram, currently accommodating around seven million people over 160 square kilometres, is experiencing population growth driven by climate refugees and employment seekers.

The new plan seeks to address these challenges by expanding the city's infrastructure and urban area nearly fivefold.

In addition to metropolitan development, the plan introduces ward-based strategies to increase public involvement. It also includes separate plans for municipalities and upazilas, ensuring all local development aligns with the overarching master plan.

Moreover, specific projects like the Metrorail, elevated expressways, and the Karnaphuli River protection initiative will be integrated into the larger framework.

The CDA has outlined seven key steps for the plan: creating a structure plan, improving drainage and transportation, reducing inequalities, drafting detailed guidelines and policies, fostering tourism, ensuring sustainability and prioritising critical areas. These measures aim to transform Chattogram into a sustainable, eco-friendly, and resilient metropolis over the next two decades.

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