Agitated locals blocked the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway at several points on Sunday demanding the development of the two-lane 136-km long highway into a six-lane expressway.

As part of a pre-announced programme, the blockade started around 9 AM in Lohagara and Keranihat of Satkania in the Chattogram district.

Under the banner of Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway Development Movement, groups of locals chanted slogans sitting on the road, swiftly bringing traffic on the busy highway into a halt.

In Chakaria, the blockade began around 10 AM near the Matamuhuri Bridge. Emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire service units, airport-bound transport, exam candidates, and essential government services, were exempted from the blockade, organisers said.

Protesters withdrew the blockade after police and local administration officials assured them that their demand would be sent to the higher authorities.

Highway Police Sub-Inspector Ruhul Amin said demonstrators lifted the blockade around 12:30 PM. Traffic became normal at around 2 PM.

Sources at the Roads and Highways Department said the works for the 136-km expressway might begin at the end of December, or in January next year.

The total cost of upgrading this highway into four lanes is estimated at Tk 180 billion. Previously, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges had submitted the development project proposal to the JICA for review.

In April 2022, a feasibility study was completed to construct the expressway under public private partnership - to which the Japan government has agreed.

JICA reviewed another study completed by an expert BUET team, which proposed to develop a 150 km highway in total and construct an expressway at the cost of Tk 420 crore. The study proposed two alternatives - construction of the existing highway into a six-lane with two-lane on both sides for low speed vehicles and another was construction of a two storied elevated expressway on the middle of the road.

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