Online Desk: The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is likely to appoint contractors for the construction of Matarbari Deep-sea Port next month (November). Evaluation of the tenders submitted for construction work of the port is likely to be completed soon. Then the authorities will go for appointment of the contractors for both Sides-Chittagong Port and Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

After their appointment, the work orders will be issued. In the meantime, the drawing and design of the port has already been completed, said CPA sources. On the other hand, the port’s channel in Moheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar was handed over to the CPA on September 20 last. The state-owned Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) handed over the responsibility of the channel to the CPA. Consequently, the responsibility of the deep-sea port is going to the CPA and that is why from now on, the use, preservation and complete control of the Matarbari channel will be done by the CPA and port dues, berth hire charges, piloting, tug charges, berthing and other charges will be collected by it.

Sources said in the current budget for the fiscal 2023-24, an amount of Tk26.76 billion (Tk2,676 crore) has been proposed for the CPA portion of deep-sea port and Tk 16.87billion (Tk 1,687 crore) for the RHD portion. In the first phase of the construction work, the cost has been estimated at over Tk 180 billion (Tk18,000 crore) in two parts. Around Tk 90 billion (Tk 9,000 crore) has been estimated for the CPA part of the development work while additional Tk90 billion (Tk 9,000 crore) has been estimated for the RHD component of the Matarbari Deep Sea Port Development Project. CPA sources said in the CPA component only two foreign tenders have been submitted for three packages of the project.

Mitsui one Japanese tender for package number 1 for construction of civil work, another Japanese Penta Ocean for package number 2 for procurement of equipment were submitted. But there was no tender for package number 2 (b) for procurement of tug boats. Meanwhile, in the RHD component, a total of 14 tenders including 11 foreign have been submitted for construction of 25.8 km long 4-lane Port Access Road on a new embankment, construction of 17 bridges, construction of 1.6 km long 4-lane Matarbari Port North-South Connector Road and soft soil improvement work.

The Matarbari Deep Sea Port Development Project comprises of construction of a new port and construction of new Port Access Road and construction of a new road component located in Chakaria and Moheskhali of Cox’s Bazar district. Secretary of CPA Omar Faruk said, “The tender process for appointing contractors for Deep Sea Port has already been held. Now, the CPA is evaluating the tenders. After getting the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from JICA, the authorities will award the tender.” He added, “The deep-sea port of CPA will be the regional business hub after completion of its construction. We can handle the mother vessels at the deep-sea port terminals at Matarbari.