Work on a link road connecting Bhangar Mor in Kalatoli with Hotel Sayeman Beach Resort in Cox’s Bazar is set to begin soon, with a sea wall to be built first.
The road is part of the Marine Drive widening project. It is expected to provide an alternative route for vehicles travelling from Kalatoli to Marine Drive, easing long-standing traffic congestion in the area.
Currently, the road from Kalatoli towards Chairman Ghata and Bhangar Mor falls under the jurisdiction of Cox’s Bazar municipality. The relatively narrow road frequently becomes congested as tourist jeeps, buses, administrative vehicles, and other transport use it.
The problem becomes particularly acute on weekends and public holidays, when more tourists lead to hours-long traffic jams. Tourists, residents and businesses are among those affected.
Officials say the absence of the proposed link road from Bhangar Mor to Hotel Sayeman Beach Resort is one reason for congestion on the route connecting Kalatoli with Marine Drive. Once the link road is completed, vehicles will have an alternative route, reducing pressure on the existing road.
Cox’s Bazar Roads and Highways Department executive engineer Rokon Uddin Khaled Chowdhury told Cox’s Bazar Life that the link road from Kalatoli to Bhangar Mor was part of the Marine Drive project.
“Work on the four-lane road will begin soon. A sea wall will be constructed first, followed by the road,” he said.
He said the new link road would significantly reduce traffic congestion at the entrance to Marine Drive from Kalatoli.
Marine Drive, stretching about 80 kilometres from Kalatoli in Cox’s Bazar town to the zero point at Sabrang in Teknaf, is one of the country’s major tourist roads. Built along the Bay of Bengal coast, it offers sea views on one side and hills on the other.
The road was inaugurated by the then prime minister on May 6, 2017. The Bangladesh Army’s 16 Engineer Construction Battalion built it at a cost of around Tk 1,050 crore.
The government has launched an initiative to upgrade the road to four lanes to increase capacity, ease congestion, and improve transport links in the tourist region.
In the 2024-25 fiscal year, a broader plan was taken up to upgrade the entire 80-kilometre route from Kalatoli to Sabrang to four lanes. Under the first phase, work is being advanced on the approximately 32-kilometre stretch from Kalatoli to Patuartek.
The project includes road widening, construction of a 305-metre two-lane bridge over the Reju Khal, RCC retaining walls, installation of concrete blocks and relocation of utility services. The Bangladesh Army’s 16 and 17 Engineer Construction Battalions are implementing the project.
Three thousand trees to be spared
Around 3,000 trees on both sides of Marine Drive had faced the prospect of being felled during the four-lane upgrade.
After the issue came to the prime minister’s attention, he instructed the authorities to widen the road without cutting down any trees. Following the directive, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges revised the project design and alignment, allowing the trees to be preserved.
On April 21, Road Transport, Bridges and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, the prime minister’s defense adviser Brigadier General (retd) AKM Shamsul Islam and Railways State Minister Habib Rashid Habib visited the Marine Drive area.
They also discussed preserving existing trees and planting additional ornamental trees along both sides of the road.
With the number of tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar increasing, pressure on roads in the tourist town is also rising. Traffic congestion in Kalatoli, particularly during holidays, often disrupts tourists’ journeys. The proposed link road and the wider four-lane upgrade are expected to improve connectivity in the area.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
