Navy to build Kanchpur bus terminal

  The Bangladesh Navy has been entrusted with the construction of the proposed Kanchpur Bus Terminal under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), following policy approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday.

The approval was given at a meeting held at the Secretariat with Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair.

Under the proposal, the project will be implemented through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited, a state-owned enterprise operated by the Bangladesh Navy.

The project includes the construction of terminal sheds, ticket counters, toilets, office rooms and other supporting facilities at the Kanchpur bus terminal.

 According to official sources, the project will cost Tk 68.8 million.

 The move follows a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on June 15 on easing traffic congestion and modernising traffic management in the capital. The meeting decided in principle to relocate the Mohakhali, Sayedabad, Gulistan and Fulbaria bus terminals to alternative locations.

 Following the meeting, DSCC Administrator Mohammad Abdus Salam said the prime minister had directed authorities to bring the Sayedabad Bus Terminal under better management and expedite the construction of the Kanchpur Inter-District Bus Terminal. He also instructed officials to take steps to relocate the Gulistan terminal and develop an orderly management system for street vendors instead of evicting them.

 Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Khan said a bus depot would initially be established in Purbachal to prevent buses from parking on roads in the Mohakhali area, with the city corporation providing the necessary support.

 Sources said that following the prime minister’s directive, the Local Government Division instructed the Dhaka South City Corporation to complete all required infrastructure and make the Kanchpur terminal operational within four months.

 Officials said the relocation of the Sayedabad Inter-District Bus Terminal to Kanchpur is expected to be implemented once the new terminal is ready.