The government has approved a major infrastructure project aimed at improving road connectivity in hill districts. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has cleared the “Rangamati (Manikchhari)–Mahalchhari–Khagrachhari Regional Highway Widening and Upgrading Project” at a cost of Tk 1,064.26 crore.
Once implemented, the project will convert the narrow and accident-prone road into a safer and more modern highway, officials said.
According to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the existing 12-foot-wide single-lane road will be upgraded into an 18-foot-wide two-lane highway. The project will cover 61.5 kilometres of the regional highway connecting Rangamati and Khagrachhari.
The development plan includes construction of 85 new culverts and expansion of 13 existing culverts along the route. Environmental restoration measures will also be undertaken, including the plantation of around 80,000 trees along the highway corridor.
The government-funded project is expected to be completed by December 2029. The Roads and Highways Department under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges will implement the project.
Officials say the upgraded road will significantly reduce accidents and improve travel safety. It will also strengthen connectivity between Rangamati and Khagrachhari, two districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Improved transportation is expected to support the growth of agriculture, small-scale industries and tourism in the region. Travel to popular tourist destinations, including Sajek Valley, is also likely to become easier and more comfortable.
Drivers who regularly travel on the route welcomed the decision. Truck and auto-rickshaw drivers Ajay Asam and Md Mizan said a wider road would allow them to drive more safely and help reduce accidents.
Local resident Abu Bakkar Siddique from the Manikchhari area said the 61.5-km road is currently extremely narrow and filled with sharp bends and steep hill slopes, making it hazardous for drivers. Heavy vehicle movement has frequently led to accidents, particularly affecting residents of Rangamati Sadar, Naniarchar and Mahalchhari upazilas.
Md Nuruzzaman, president of the BNP’s Naniarchar upazila unit, said the road had remained neglected for nearly four decades. “Driving here has always been risky due to dangerous curves. The news of widening the road is a relief for us,” he said.
Rangamati RHD Executive Engineer Sabuj Chakma described the road as an important regional highway that has long faced safety challenges due to its limited width.
“The government has taken the initiative to widen and upgrade the road to modern standards. The project was approved at the ECNEC meeting on January 25, 2026,” he said.
Officials added that timely completion of the project would mark a significant improvement in transport in the hill region, while boosting tourism and reducing road accidents.
