In a leap toward modernising urban transport, Chattogram is set to become the first city in Bangladesh to introduce a monorail system, promising to ease the city’s chronic traffic woes and elevate its status as a vibrant, eco-friendly hub.
On Sunday, June 1, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at the Chamber Auditorium in Agrabad’s World Trade Centre, marking a pivotal step toward realising this ambitious vision.
The agreement, inked between the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and a consortium of Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors, paves the way for a comprehensive feasibility study.
The foreign partners will fully finance and implement the project, relieving the CCC of financial burdens while the city provides logistical support and land allocation.
Speaking as the chief guest at the signing ceremony, CCC Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain outlined the transformative potential of the 54-kilometer monorail network, estimated to cost between Tk 20,000 and 25,000 crore. “We’ve been working tirelessly to make Chattogram a beautiful, planned, and congestion-free city,” he said. “From smart traffic systems to new bus terminals, we’ve explored many solutions, but the monorail will be a game-changer.”
The mayor emphasised that the monorail will not only alleviate traffic gridlock but also position Chattogram as an environmentally sustainable, tourism-friendly, and business-ready city. “This project will build a modern bridge connecting Chattogram to South Asia,” he said, also advocating for upgrading Chattogram Airport to international standards to complement the city’s tourism potential, surrounded by rivers and mountains.
Kausar Alam Chowdhury, chief representative of the Arab Contractors and Orascom Peninsula Consortium, detailed the project’s scope. Operating under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the monorail will be funded by Germany’s Nass Investment and Egypt’s National Bank of Egypt. Three proposed routes will cover key areas of the city:
Line-1 (26.5 km): From Kalurghat to the airport, passing through Bahaddarhat, Chawkbazar, Lalkhan Bazar, Dewanhat, and Patenga.
Line-2 (13.5 km): From City Gate to Shaheed Bashiruzzaman Square, via AK Khan, Nimtoli, Sadarghat, and Firingi Bazar.
Line-3 (14.5 km): From Oxygen to Firingi Bazar, covering Muradpur, Panchlaish, Andarkilla, and Kotwali.
Kausar Alam highlighted the monorail’s modern, eco-friendly design, noting that revenue will come from ticket sales, advertisements, station shops, and rising property values in surrounding areas. “A robust public transport system can deliver economic returns five to seven times the investment,” he said.
Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury, president of the Greater Chattogram Economic Forum, underscored the project’s role in transforming Chattogram into a smart, sustainable city. “We will form an economic forum with businessmen, professionals, and residents to ensure smooth implementation,” he said.
The event saw participation from key figures, including CCC Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam, Chief Revenue Officer Sarwar Kamal, and Member Secretary of the Greater Chattogram Economic Forum Nazir Shaheen.
While a 54.5-kilometer metro rail feasibility study began in October 2019, it was halted midway. The CCC has now pivoted to the monorail, a more compact and elevated single-track system, as a practical solution for Chattogram’s urban challenges. Previous proposals from Chinese firms, including Witech in June 2021 and Weihai International Economic and Technical Cooperative Company Limited with China Railway Construction Company Limited in May 2021, laid the groundwork for this shift.