Since 2009, the Awami League government, which is in its fourth straight term, has constructed and repaired 235km of roads and bridges across Rangamati, including in many remote areas of the hill districts.
The Road and Highways Department (RHD) said a whopping Tk11,000 crore was spent in this regard over the past 15 years.
Improving road connectivity from Rangamati to its adjoining districts, including Chittagong, and even the capital are the main target of the construction of the roads, sources at the RHD said.
Other than the roads in both national and regional categories, several bridges and culverts have also been constructed in Rangamati.
Major projects
Nearly Tk1,625 crore was spent on developing roads in the district.
Under the sub-project of the Naniarchar-Langadow road, the Bogachhori- Langadow road was constructed at an expenditure of Tk374.78 crore.
Additionally, Tk3,891.55 crore was spent on the Chittagong-Rangamati road development project implemented by the 20-Engineer Construction Battalion (ECB) of the Bangladesh Army.
For developing the Rangamati (Ghagra)-Chandraghona-Bangalhalia-Bandarban road, Tk3,018.04 crore was spent, while the Bangalhalia-Rajasthali road in Rangamati was developed at a cost of Tk1,858.5 crore.
These are among the major road construction and development projects.
Chunilal Dewan Bridge
A 500-meter-long bridge in the district’s Naniarchar upazila, which was named after Chunilal Dewan, was built at the cost of Tk227.61 crore after decades-long demand by locals. Situated on the 10-km Bogachhari-Naniarchar-Langadow road, the bridge is helping farmers benefit greatly.
It is, in fact, the largest bridge in the entire Chittagong Hill Tracts.
One can easily travel to Langadow upazila of the district through the bridge which has also eased the journey to the famous tourist spot – Sajek Valley -- in Baghaichhari of Rangamati via Dighinala of Khagrachhari.
More bridges
Rangamati currently has 17 bailey bridges, with four of them built recently, according to the RHD.
Seven more bailey bridges are being built now.
Ongoing projects
Initiated in 2017, a project involving Tk287 is underway to construct walls stretching 5,470 metres in five upazilas of Rangamati.
The walls are designed on different parts of roads that were affected by landslides during the monsoon.
Meanwhile, the first phase of a 317 km-road along the remote borders with Myanmar and India is expected to end this year.
The army is implementing the project, well known as Border Road, stretches across the three CHT districts -- Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban.
Under the project, a 130km road is being constructed in four upazilas of Rangamati.
Stakeholders’ take
Highlighting the completed and forthcoming projects, Rangamati RHD Executive Engineer Sabuj Chakma termed those “highly timely.”
Through the measures taken for road communication in the district, locals are benefitting most, he said.
Being a major tourist destination, Rangamati is also reaping the benefits during the peak season, stakeholders said.
Chittagong-Rangamati Motor Vehicle Owners’ Association (Rangamati chapter) President Md Shahiduzzaman Mohsin said passengers, especially tourists, are happier than before these days as they enjoy hassle-free trips from and to Rangamati.
Bus driver Md Yousuf said the improved road connectivity not only eased journeys but helped the roads widen.
“We hardly face any problem driving on the road from and to Rangamati,” said Yousuf, who serves on the Chittagong-Rangamati route.
Suman Chakma, an inhabitant of Mitingachhari of Rangamati’s Rajasthai upazila, said people can easily commute to Rajasthali Sadar, which would take them almost two hours to reach before a road was constructed there.
