CPA Estimates Tk13,525cr for Bay Terminal Marine Project

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has revised the estimated cost of its ambitious Bay Terminal Marine Infrastructure Development Project (BTMID) to Tk13,525.27 crore. The financing will be a mix of internal funds and foreign loans, including significant backing from the World Bank.

Of the total cost, Tk4,192.57 crore will come from CPA’s own resources, while Tk9,333 crore is expected through foreign financing. The World Bank has already approved US$650 million to support critical elements such as the climate-resilient breakwater and dredging of the access channel.

CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk told the Daily Sun that the updated Detailed Project Proposal (DPP) was submitted to the ministry this month and will be presented at the upcoming ECNEC meeting on Sunday. “We’re hopeful of getting the green light, after which a loan agreement will be signed with the World Bank,” he said, adding that the CPA is targeting project completion by June 2031.

The revised DPP consolidates multiple previously separate components—such as hinterland infrastructure and common facilities—into a unified plan to enhance implementation efficiency. The update also incorporates feedback from the pre-ECNEC meeting and a project evaluation committee session held on 6 March, which recommended cost adjustments. The original cost estimate stood at Tk14,600 crore but was reduced following these consultations.

In addition to the approved $650 million, CPA officials expect an additional $200 million in World Bank funding.

Once ECNEC approval is secured, CPA plans to launch an international tender to select contractors, in line with World Bank procurement standards.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved its initial funding on 28 June last year. The support will go toward constructing a 6.217-km breakwater to protect the port from adverse weather and dredging a 7-km long, 600-meter wide access channel to accommodate larger vessels.

The integrated project now also includes essential infrastructure such as internal roads, drainage systems, service jetties, an administrative building, fire and medical stations, a police outpost, an Ansar barrack, a water treatment plant, and a fish landing station.

Once completed, the Bay Terminal—featuring one multipurpose and two container terminals—will double Chattogram Port's container handling capacity. It is expected to handle over three million containers annually, complementing the current 3.2 million throughput.

At present, Chattogram Port only allows berthing for vessels with a 9.5-meter draft and 190-meter length during daylight high tides. The new infrastructure will enable round-the-clock docking for vessels with drafts up to 11.5 meters and lengths up to 300 meters, capable of carrying up to 4,800 containers.

The three terminals will include 13 jetties along a 3.95-kilometre stretch adjacent to the City Outer Ring Road, significantly enhancing the port’s logistics and trade capacity.