Construction work of the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chittagong Port is going on in full swing, officials said.
They said, more than 75 per cent work of the Tk 18.68 billion (Tk 1,868 crore) project has already been completed and the rest will be ended within this year, hoping that the PCT will be operational in early 2022.
Sources said, despite the construction was hampered multiple times for non-stop government holidays and a series of coronavirus-induced shutdown during the Covid-19 outbreak early last year and the several moths long lockdown this year, construction work fully resumed after the restrictions were lifted last month and is progressing smoothly now.
"Hundred per cent construction will be ended within this year and the PCT can start its full operation in January or February next year," officials said.
Talking to the FE, Secretary of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Omar Faruk said, "Construction work of the container terminal is going on in full swing. The CPA is financing the project with own fund. More than 75% work has already been completed. We hope that rest will be completed within the current year and we can operate the PCT within the 2022."
He also said that almost all construction work on the jetty area of Chittagong Port has been completed. The engineering corps of the Bangladesh Army has been selected to execute the project.
There will also be a specialised jetty - dolphin oil jetty in the terminal for unloading fuel oil, backyards, road and railway tracks and other facilities, he stated.
Once completed, ships with more than 9.5-metre draft would be able to take berth at the PCT jetty, he said.
"Three container carrying ships of 190-metre length and up to 10.5-metre draft each can take berth at a time at the PCT. The new jetty of the PCT will be 600 metres long. Besides, 220 metres long oil tanker can take berth at the dolphin jetty," he stated, adding "There are 16 acres of space on the back yard of the jetty where containers totalling 4,500 TEUs can be stored."
Under the project, 112,000 cft RCC pavement, 2,128 cft Freight Station (CFS), 1,750-metre-long wall for bonded customs warehouse are being constructed, he noted.
Operation at the jetty will be started partially next year, he said, adding a new jetty was needed be built to cope with the increasing number of ships arrivals and handling the growing number of containers and export-import goods.
"Our port has been experiencing 16 to 17 per cent growth in cargo and container handling in the last few years. The under-construction PCT and other terminals, including the Bay Terminal, will play a vital role in the growth of cargo and container handling at prime sea port of the country," he further noted.
PCT Project Director Mijanur Rahman Sarkar said, "Construction of PCT is in full gear now and the civil work of the terminal is being implemented under the supervision of the Army engineering corps. After starting operation of the PTC, the total container handling capacity of Chittagong Port will be increased to 450,000 TEUs."
Sources said, the PCT will have modern container handling equipment like key gantry cranes and rubber gantry cranes. Vessel may take berth at the PCT jetty in lesser time than the other jetties because the PCT terminal will be nearer to the estuary of Karnaphuli River than other ones.
The PCT is constructed over 32 acres of land with three berthing facilities totalling 600 metres in length and three vessels with more than 9.5 metres draft can be anchored there at a time.
The Ministry of Shipping approved the project on June 13, 2017, and the CPA got the formal administrative nod for constructing the new container terminal at Patenga in July last. The cost for the new terminal is estimated to be Tk 1,868 crore. The money will be spent from the CPA's own-found.
It may be mentioned that two foreign companies - Red Sea Gateway Terminal and DP World - have already expressed their interest in operating the PCT. However, the government is yet to take a decision in this regard.
