The ay-Terminal project of Chattogram Port requires Tk 4,000 crore for breakwater construction and channel dredging work. The World Bank has shown its interest in providing the money as loan. In this regard, a technical delegation of the World Bank has come to Chattogram on a three-day visit to see the ins and outs of the Bay-Terminal Project of Chattogram Port. They have visited the project area on the first day of the tour on Sunday
According to sources, the technical delegation of 11 members of the World Bank arrived in Chattogram in the morning on Sunday. They visited the terminal project area on site and examined the technical issues. Later, discussions were held with the port officials on various technical aspects of the project. But no decision has been made yet.
However, this visit and discussion will continue for two more days. During this time, they will conduct an on-site inspection on various issues including the speed of the sea, the intensity of the current, tides.
Led by Mr. Hua Tan, Senior Transport Specialist of World Bank, the delegation included Senior Infrastructure Program Leader Rajesh Roatgi, Program Coordinator Dilshad Dosani, Sr. Environmental Expert Lisbet Kugler, Sr. Social Development Specialist Mauricio Monterio Vieira, Social Development Specialist Sabbir Ahsan, Sr. Procurement Specialist Srinivasa Chowdhury, Sr. Financial Management Specialist Riyazuddin Chowdhury , Transport Consultant Tian Martin, Senior Port Engineer Komelis Johannes Klaver and Senior Dredging Engineer Derrick Rokima. Omar Farooq , Secretary of Chattogram Port Authority said that the World Bank is willing to finance the bay terminal project. "In this regard a team of the bank has come to Chattogram. They will stay for three days and prepare a report on various issues including the project area, sea speed, nature, current intensity, tides etc.", he added. " We had a discussion yesterday and it will continue today and tomorrow. They have assured us of all possible cooperation. So, we think this is a big progress in the project work. Hopefully we can sign an agreement with the World Bank soon", Omar Farooq said.
It is learnt that three terminals will be constructed under the Bay-Terminal project. A terminal will be financed by Chattogram port. The other two will be constructed with foreign investment under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal. Four consulting firms have already been appointed for the breakwater construction and channel dredging of the project. The companies are - German companies Sellhorn, WSP, KS and Aqua.
The first part of the consulting firm's work is to provide final direction and measurements of capital dredging including design, drawing, estimation and tender documents for the breakwater of the bay terminal. The second part is the supervision of the contractor's work by the consultant after the appointment of the contractor. The entire consultancy service will be self funded by Chattogram Port Authority. The tenure of the consultant will be three and half a year.
This is to mention, the Bay Terminal project was taken as part of the plan to increase the capacity of Chattogram port a decade ago in keeping pace with the growth of import and export of the country. According to the project plan, the Bay-Terminal is the largest and most expensive project in the history of Chattogram Port. The jetty of the proposed terminal near Patenga-Halisahar area of the city will be able to accommodate ships with a draft of 12 meters and a length of 280 meters. The existing jetties of the Chattogram port built along the banks of Karnaphuli cannot accommodate any ship larger than 9.5 meters draft and 190 meters long.
The bay-terminal will have a container handling capacity of around 5 Million TU's. If this project is implemented, it will be possible to handle almost double the current capacity of Chattogram port.
