Staff Correspondent:

A revised action plan has been prepared for the construction of the Bay Terminal, envisioned to serve as a key port for the next 100 years.

Instead of separate projects, major components are now being integrated into a single initiative.

The proposal, which includes the construction of a breakwater, a navigation access channel, and rail and road connectivity, has been submitted to the ministry for approval, according to officials.

Under the Bay Terminal Marine Infrastructure Development Project (BTMIDP), the estimated costs are as follows: breakwater construction – Tk8,269.85 crore, navigation access channel – Tk1,979.45 crore, installation of navigation aids – Tk57.7 crore, and connectivity infrastructure (rail and road) – Tk3,434.68 crore.

The World Bank is expected to provide Tk10,272.4 crore for the project, while the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) will contribute Tk4,636.43 crore from its own funds. However, officials indicate that these figures may be subject to minor revisions in the final agreement.

CPA Chairman SM Moniruzzaman said in a recent press briefing that the Bay Terminal project comprises five key components: Container Terminal-1, Container Terminal-2, Multi-Purpose Terminal, Breakwater and Access Channel Construction, and Ancillary Facilities, including roads and a service jetty.

He added that a Development Project Proposal (DPP) covering the breakwater, access channel, and ancillary facilities has already been sent to the ministry for approval.

Once approved, a loan agreement with the World Bank will be finalised. The project is expected to double the handling capacity of Chattogram Port and significantly reduce congestion in the city, with completion anticipated between 2029 and 2030.

Despite ongoing expansions such as new terminals and yards, Chattogram Port is projected to fall short of future demand, underscoring the urgency of the Bay Terminal project.

Officials concerned emphasised that the terminal remains under CPA’s sole jurisdiction. Previous attempts to execute different aspects separately led to delays and bureaucratic hurdles, which the new integrated approach aims to overcome.

The World Bank is set to provide $650 million for channel and breakwater construction, with the loan application process already in progress. Additionally, an extra $192 million will be sought to develop railway and highway connections to the Bay Terminal.