Sadarghat,Chawkbazar and Bahaddarhat-- the densely populated areas of Chattogram city -- already have flyovers and there is no space to construct over ground metro rail, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said today.

In some parts of the city, the population is very high. It is difficult to construct over ground metro rail. It's important to make a plan to construct underground metro rail," said the minister. It is important to consider how to bring the metro rail to the other side of the Karnaphuli river," he said. "People of Chattogram did not think that there would be metro rail in the city.

There was no demand also (for it). The Prime Minister has taken the development of Chattogram in consideration," added the minister. Around one crore people live in the portcity now and there is a possibility that the number will be doubled within 10 years," he said.

The minister made the remarks at a meeting on feasibility study for the master plan of a transportation system and metro rail in Chattogram city and at a press briefing in the conference room of Chittagong Circuit House this morning. "The (South) Korean government is giving us five million dollars as grant for the feasibility study of the metro rail," added the minister.

Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Md Ashraf Uddin presided over the meeting, which was conducted by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman. Kim Taehyun, deputy country director of KOICA; Additional Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Department Md Abdul Malek; Joint Secretary Mahbubur Rahman; Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation Rezaul Karim Chowdhury; Chairman of Chittagong Development Authority Zahirul Alam Dobhas spoke,

among others, spoke on the occasion. The feasibility study would be conducted with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Earlierat a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed to build metro rail in the port city.

Source: Daily Star