To ease traffic congestion in Chittagong city, it has been recommended to focus on modern public transport systems instead of going for expensive projects like metro rail or monorail. Instead of building a metro rail or monorail at a cost of Tk 25,000 to 30,000 crore, it has been proposed to deploy 700 modern buses at a cost of Tk 2,500 to 3,000 crore, realign bus routes and launch Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
This recommendation has been made in the draft Traffic and Transport Master Plan prepared by the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA). The draft of this 25-year master plan from 2025 to 2050 has recently been opened for comments, objections and suggestions. Comments will be taken on this issue for the next 60 days.
The draft master plan states that the current passenger demand in Chittagong has not reached the level required for the construction of a metro rail. To make a metro rail system economically viable, a demand of at least 18,000 passengers per hour in each direction is required. But Chittagong does not currently have that number of passengers. Even by 2050, this demand is unlikely to be met, according to a 2016 World Bank-supported transport survey.
For this reason, priority has been given to a low-cost, quickly implemented public transport system instead of a metro rail. The plan proposes to bring the city's public transport system into order by forming an integrated 'bus company', route rationalization and launching BRT.
Currently, there are about 1,100 buses plying in Chittagong city, but most of them are old and of poor quality. The draft master plan states that these buses are increasing traffic congestion and air pollution due to lack of maintenance and unplanned movement. There is a plan to gradually remove the dilapidated buses once 700 new modern buses are introduced.
Questions also arise about the elevated expressway, The draft master plan also criticizes the past development of Chittagong's transport infrastructure. It is mentioned that the construction of expensive flyovers and elevated expressways without proper development of traffic management has created a new crisis in the city's road system.
Especially due to the existing flyovers and elevated expressways on important roads like CDA Avenue and Airport Road, the construction of a metro rail in the same corridor has become technically complex. Even if there is an opportunity to build an underground metro rail, the cost will increase significantly, as a result of which the project may not be economically sustainable.
Traffic management first, big projects later, Road transport expert and Vice President of the Planned Chittagong Forum, Engineer Subhash Barua, believes that it is important to overhaul the city's existing traffic management before introducing 700 buses.
According to him, there should be specific lanes for buses, modern traffic management at important intersections, and the pressure of private cars, rickshaws and autorickshaws on the road should be reduced. The public transport system should be reformed by formulating separate plans and designs for each important road.
Integrated Committee for Implementation, The master plan proposes the formation of a high-level ‘Integrated Traffic Management Committee’ to coordinate and supervise the development work of related organizations including CDA, Chittagong City Corporation. The mayor of the City Corporation will serve as the chairman.
According to Project Director and Deputy Chief Urban Planner Md. Abu Isa Ansari, the goal of the new traffic and transportation master plan is to build a safe, integrated and environmentally friendly transportation system for the growing population of Chittagong. Smart traffic management, modern public transport and the development of water and rail communication have also been given importance.
On the other hand, a study on the need for a metro rail in Chittagong is still ongoing. According to Mir Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, the project director of the relevant project, it is not possible to say definitively whether a metro rail is needed or not before the study is completed.
Overall, the main message of the draft master plan is that a metro rail worth thousands of crores of taka is not needed to deal with traffic congestion in Chittagong right now; Rather, a comprehensive initiative of modern buses, well-organized routes, designated bus lanes, and improved traffic management at relatively low cost could be a realistic solution.
