Chittagong's acute gridlock situation at five busy intersections is to be eased through flyover constructions within next three years at a cost ofTk260 crore.

The 1665 metre long flyover at Bahadderhat intersection will be the first and to be completed by 2011 at a cost ofTk86.5 crore.

The construction of four other flyovers at Muradpur, Sholoshahar Gate No. 2, GEC crossing and Kadamtali will be completed gradually.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to lay foundation stone of the flyovers at a ceremony at Bahadderhat tomorrow, said Chittagong Development Authority Chairman Abdus Salam yesterday at a press conference held at CDA conference room.

He also said CDA had plans to create some alternative roads and to expand and renovate few existing roads for the vehicles to enter and exit the city to avoid the main Kalurghat-Patenga road.

Sources said the proposed Y-shaped Bahadderhat flyover would start from Muradpur Road while one of its two arms would end at the 3rd Karnaphuli Bridge bound highway and the other would meet the Kalurghat Bridge bound road.

At present four intersections, including Bahadderhat, Muradpur, Sholoshahar Gate No. 2 and GEC crossing, are located on the same CDA Avenue, the lone highway that crosses the city.

City dwellers are now facing intolerable sufferings due to the gridlock at all points including these five intersections since the traffic system of the city depends on the lone highway stretching from Kalurghat to Patenga.

Vehicles from different destinations of the southern part of the district including Patiya, Anwara, Banskhali and from Cox's Bazar and Teknaf enter into the city through Bahadderhat intersection creating a serious traffic jam at the point.

It is feared that the situation would be horrible with the launching of the 3rd Karnaphuli Bridge in the middle of this year.

The Bahadderhat flyover project was recommended for approval bt the cabinet in the inter-ministerial meeting held at the Housing and Public Works Ministry on December 15, said the sources in CDA.

A tender has already been invited to recruit consultants in this regard.