The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) announced on Wednesday its plan to set up a medium level port between Sitakund and Mirshari at the Sandwip Channel.
Sources said the port would be set up between the two upazilas for carrying goods of Feni and Mirsharai economical zones.
“The decision will be finalised after conducting technical and economical survey,” said Rear Admiral M Khaled Iqbal, chairman of the CPA, at a views exchange meeting with the journalists at Shaheed Mohammed Fazlur Rahman Munshi auditorium.
The CPA chairman also said the government, which decided to set up 10 economic zones across the country, had directed them to set up a port centering the economic zones after conducting a primary study.
“We have selected the sites between Sitakund and Mirsharai. We will have to arrange a new naval route of 26 to 40 kilometers for the prospective port,” he said adding that the new port would reduce pressure on Chittagong Port.
Regarding the proposed Bay Terminal at Patenga, the port chairman said they had the plan to accomplish the project by 2021.
“We are expecting to get no objection certificate from the department of environment by this month and will finalise the process to acquire 907 acres of land,” he said.
The CPA chairman also said they could not procure equipments, including Gantry Cranes, in the past 10 years due to different causes.
“Tender will be floated in the current month to procure a number of equipments to ease the container handling activities,” he added.