China offers to bankroll Chattogram metro rail, ‘smart city’. In return, it wants part of township profits

[Black_cats]

China offers to bankroll Chattogram metro rail, ‘smart city’. In return, it wants part of township profits​

Mitoon Chowdhury, Chattogram Bureau, bdnews24.com
Published: 19 Feb 2022 02:28 AM BdST Updated: 19 Feb 2022 10:01 AM BdST

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PreviousNext

Four Chinese state-owned firms are keen to build the planned metro rail network along with a ‘smart city’ on the land reclaimed from the sea in Chattogram and will fully fund the costs. The catch is that they want a share of the profits from the township in return.​

​

Officials at the Chattogram Development Authority, or CDA, confirmed the expression of interest, saying China would pay for the cost of a feasibility study for the metro rail. The CDA will inform the government about the proposal through the housing and public works ministry for a final decision.

"A shoal area exists in the sea near the place designated for our bay terminal in Mirsarai. China has offered to build a township on the reclaimed land there," said Kazi Hasan Bin Shams, the CDA's chief engineer.

The Chinese companies want to take charge of the 'smart city' and share the profits with Bangladesh after selling the plots, he said.

"In exchange, they want to build the metro rail with their own funds. The government does not have to pay anything."

When asked if the project on reclaimed land would advsersely affect the environment, Kazi Hasan said the land is away from the shipbreaking yards in the area.

According to him, these days 'modern technology' is used in reclaiming land, and the Chinese companies are quite capable. The companies said they had a technology that will make the water look transparent.

“It's the 'dead end' of the sea. It'll have no adverse effect on the sea if the land is reclaimed there. Many countries, including Singapore, have built such townships on reclaimed land in the past two decades. The Chinese companies said they have prior experience in such work."

​

He is also happy with the pace at which Chinese companies are constructing the Karnaphuli tunnel and the Padma Bridge.

South Korea has also expressed an interest in constructing the second metro rail of Bangladesh.

Representatives of the Korea International Cooperation Agency or KOICA spoke of their willingness to conduct a feasibility study in a meeting with Bangladeshi officials, including Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, on Feb 8. South Korea wanted to donate $5 million for the study.

Now the government will decide which offer to accept, said Kazi Hasan. But, he added, the Chinese firms did not say how much profit they want from the ‘smart city’.

Earlier, China came up with a proposal to do a feasibility study for metro rail in Chattogram, and the authorities had asked them to fund it.
"Otherwise, it will be an additional spending for us if the project does not go ahead after the study."

The Chattogram City Corporation conducted a feasibility study in 2019 through a private firm, Basasthan Engineers and Consultants Limited, which recommended three rapid transit metro lines in the city, which would cost around Tk 860 billion.

But experts believe Chattogram metro rail may cost as much as Tk 1 trillion or even more. Businesses in Chattogram have been asking for a metro rail network including three to four routes connecting Mirsarai Economic Zone, industrial areas and the growth centres on the outskirts of the city.

The Chinese proposal did not outline a budget for the township.

​

Kazi Hasan declined to reveal the names of the four Chinese firms, but China Railway Construction Company Limited offered to do the feasibility study in a meeting with LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam on Jan 13. A CDA official, requesting anonymity, said CRCCL is among the four Chinese companies that sent the latest proposal.

Comments from CRCCL were not immediately available.

In the future, Bangabandhu Industrial City, Karnaphuli tunnel, proposed economic zone on the other side of the tunnel and a deep-sea port and energy hub in Matarbari will be parts of bustling economic areas, which are expected to attract businesses and investors from across the globe.

Chattogram city desperately needs a metro rail system, agreed economist Dr Moinul Islam. But the government, he added, now needs to go through the proposals and decide which one to go with.

But he warned the government to be careful about making a decision about the Chinese offer to build a township.

"Chattogram definitely needs a mass rapid transit from Kalurghat to airport. I myself have been pushing for one for the last few years. But the government has to decide who will implement the project," said Dr Islam, a former president at Bangladesh Economic Association.

“China has built a Chinese city in Colombo, which turned out to be a big problem for Sri Lanka,” he said about the bay township proposal.

"The offer may seem lucrative, but it should be thoroughly examined," he went on, "accepting such a proposal without a prior scrutiny may cause trouble later on."

China offers to bankroll Chattogram metro rail, ‘smart city’. In return, it wants part of township profits

Four Chinese state-owned firms are keen to build the planned metro rail network along with a ‘smart city’ on the land reclaimed from the sea in Chattogram and will fully fund the costs. The catch is that they want a share of the profits from the township in return.

bdnews24.com

 

[AmiEktaKharapChele]

The usual skeptics spouting nonsense at the end, as a resident of Chittagong, this seems long overdue and the majority of people in the city will support this.



Also for the love of God, it's not chattogram, it's Chittagong, stop trying to get everything to conform to shuddo Bangla that isn't even spoken, with a decent amount of proficiency, by the vast majority of people in Chittagong district.

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

Im sold...

 

[bluesky]

Officials at the Chattogram Development Authority, or CDA, confirmed the expression of interest, saying China would pay for the cost of a feasibility study for the metro rail. The CDA will inform the government about the proposal through the housing and public works ministry for a final decision.

"A shoal area exists in the sea near the place designated for our bay terminal in Mirsarai. China has offered to build a township on the reclaimed land there," said Kazi Hasan Bin Shams, the CDA's chief engineer.

The Chinese companies want to take charge of the 'smart city' and share the profits with Bangladesh after selling the plots, he said.

I believe the Chinese companies/ China is sweetening the offer of building the Chittagong Metro Rail by offering an additional offer of land reclamation/ development of an area near the seashore.

It seems China wants to offset the Korean railway offer with the additional offer of land reclamation. I may be wrong, though!!

If the subject Beachland is for reclamation or expansion, it is possible that China will ask the GoB to give permission to build its exclusive economic zone there that will attract Chinese investors to build factories there.

Here, Korean companies may be less reluctant in investing to build factories compared to China. So, by this offering of an additional proposal of land reclamation, I believe, China is sweetening the offer on the Metro Rail construction.

By the way, out of three Metro Line, Korea can be awarded at least one line, and China two. But knowing the Chinese mind, I believe, China will not like it.

China may want a monopoly business. Either all three or none - this is how they may bargain.

 

[fallstuff]

What are the numbers ?

 

[UKBengali]

If the offer is a fair one, BD should jump at it!

 

[mb444]

Bizzare post.... without numbers difficult to judge the quality of the proposal and potential implications.

 

[bluesky]

চট্টগ্রামে ফ্রিতে মেট্রোরেল করে দিয়ে সাগরপারে উপশহর চায় চীন

চীনের নির্মাণ প্রতিষ্ঠান চাইনিজ রেলওয়ে কনস্ট্রাকশন কোম্পানি লিমিটেড (সিআরসিসি) গত বছরের ২১শে মে সম্পূর্ণ নিজস্ব অর্থে চট্টগ্রামে মেট্রোরেল প্রকল্পের সম্ভাব্যতা যাচাই করার প্রস্তাব দিয়েছিল। এই বিষয়ে বেশ কিছুদিন ধরে কাজ করছে তারা। তবে এবার শুধু সম্ভাব্যতা যাচাই নয়, মেট্রোরেল নির্মাণের সম্ভাব্য ৮৬...

mzamin.com

China wants to develop a seabeach suburb in exchange for building a free city rail in Chittagong
Jalal Rumi, from Chittagong
First page 20 February 2022, Sunday

Chinese Railway Construction Company Limited (CRCC), a Chinese construction company, had on May 21 last year offered to explore the feasibility of a metro rail project in Chittagong at its own expense. They have been working on this for quite some time.

However, this time, not only the feasibility study but also the construction of the city rail costing from Taka 6 thousand crores to one lakh crore, all the state-owned companies of the country have said that they will give it as a grant.

In return, they want to build a suburb on Mirsarai in Chittagong on about 50,000 acres of land by the sea.

They will also give a part of the income of this suburb to Bangladesh. Hasan Bin Shams, the chief engineer of the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), told Manbajmin about the proposal, adding that four Chinese companies have jointly proposed to set up a free city rail in Chittagong. In return, they want to suburbanize 50,000 acres of land from Mirsarai to the Bay Terminal. They will build this suburb at their own expense.

And it will be under their control for a certain period of time. There, they will have various infrastructures including accommodations with all kinds of modern civic amenities. From there they will pay some income to CDA i.e. Bangladesh government. He said the government would take a decision after considering the proposal.

It is learned that in 2021, the Chinese company CRCC was supposed to be allowed to conduct the feasibility of Chittagong city rail. In the midst of various discussions, four Chinese organizations proposed to the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) to carry out the project at their own expense.

According to the proposal of Chinese companies, they will determine the route of the rail from Mirsarai Economic Zone of Chittagong to the airport and growth centers of the city. In this case also, they will bear all the expenses including the necessary survey.
The Bangladesh government does not have to spend any money on this.

According to the proposal, a total of four companies, including CCC and CRCC, would fill up parts of the Sandwip Channel from the Mirsarai Economic Zone to the Bay Terminal and build suburbs similar to Singapore and Dubai in exchange for building the free city rail. It will be done entirely at their expense. And until a certain time, this suburb will be completely under their control.

However, the extent of this time is not mentioned in the proposal. The proposal states that several countries, including Dubai, Japan and Sri Lanka, have projects to fill parts of the sea. The countries have benefited financially from this. There is no environmental problem.

According to sources, in the last five years, a number of companies have expressed interest in the city or Monorail project in Chittagong, but the project has not seen the light of day due to lack of funding. In addition to the Chinese company CRCC, South Korea's development partner Koika has expressed interest in the project.

Asked how much Bangladesh would benefit from the proposals made by the four Chinese companies, CDA chief engineer Hassan bin Shams said, "This will open a new door of economic potential in the region." There will be permanent employment for thousands of people. And this will be done by using the abandoned land on the seashore.

Several countries of the world have benefited from such projects. And since China is the world's economic superpower, our relationship with them will be even stronger. They will come forward in more different projects. According to the Chinese company, the project in Mirsarai will provide clear water in that part, like St. Martin in Cox's Bazar.

Former chairman of the Department of International Relations at the University of Chittagong and geopolitical analyst. Kamal Uddin told Manabzamin, "Four Chinese companies said they would do it for free. On the one hand, it is considered positive." But everything Free will has something hidden.

They will do such a big mega project, it will definitely be in their interest. The question of security is also involved.

 

[Wergeland]

China offers to bankroll Chattogram metro rail, ‘smart city’. In return, it wants part of township profits​

Mitoon Chowdhury, Chattogram Bureau, bdnews24.com
Published: 19 Feb 2022 02:28 AM BdST Updated: 19 Feb 2022 10:01 AM BdST

• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
• 

PreviousNext

Four Chinese state-owned firms are keen to build the planned metro rail network along with a ‘smart city’ on the land reclaimed from the sea in Chattogram and will fully fund the costs. The catch is that they want a share of the profits from the township in return.​

​

Officials at the Chattogram Development Authority, or CDA, confirmed the expression of interest, saying China would pay for the cost of a feasibility study for the metro rail. The CDA will inform the government about the proposal through the housing and public works ministry for a final decision.

"A shoal area exists in the sea near the place designated for our bay terminal in Mirsarai. China has offered to build a township on the reclaimed land there," said Kazi Hasan Bin Shams, the CDA's chief engineer.

The Chinese companies want to take charge of the 'smart city' and share the profits with Bangladesh after selling the plots, he said.

"In exchange, they want to build the metro rail with their own funds. The government does not have to pay anything."

When asked if the project on reclaimed land would advsersely affect the environment, Kazi Hasan said the land is away from the shipbreaking yards in the area.

According to him, these days 'modern technology' is used in reclaiming land, and the Chinese companies are quite capable. The companies said they had a technology that will make the water look transparent.

“It's the 'dead end' of the sea. It'll have no adverse effect on the sea if the land is reclaimed there. Many countries, including Singapore, have built such townships on reclaimed land in the past two decades. The Chinese companies said they have prior experience in such work."

​

He is also happy with the pace at which Chinese companies are constructing the Karnaphuli tunnel and the Padma Bridge.

South Korea has also expressed an interest in constructing the second metro rail of Bangladesh.

Representatives of the Korea International Cooperation Agency or KOICA spoke of their willingness to conduct a feasibility study in a meeting with Bangladeshi officials, including Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, on Feb 8. South Korea wanted to donate $5 million for the study.

Now the government will decide which offer to accept, said Kazi Hasan. But, he added, the Chinese firms did not say how much profit they want from the ‘smart city’.

Earlier, China came up with a proposal to do a feasibility study for metro rail in Chattogram, and the authorities had asked them to fund it.
"Otherwise, it will be an additional spending for us if the project does not go ahead after the study."

The Chattogram City Corporation conducted a feasibility study in 2019 through a private firm, Basasthan Engineers and Consultants Limited, which recommended three rapid transit metro lines in the city, which would cost around Tk 860 billion.

But experts believe Chattogram metro rail may cost as much as Tk 1 trillion or even more. Businesses in Chattogram have been asking for a metro rail network including three to four routes connecting Mirsarai Economic Zone, industrial areas and the growth centres on the outskirts of the city.

The Chinese proposal did not outline a budget for the township.

​

Kazi Hasan declined to reveal the names of the four Chinese firms, but China Railway Construction Company Limited offered to do the feasibility study in a meeting with LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam on Jan 13. A CDA official, requesting anonymity, said CRCCL is among the four Chinese companies that sent the latest proposal.

Comments from CRCCL were not immediately available.

In the future, Bangabandhu Industrial City, Karnaphuli tunnel, proposed economic zone on the other side of the tunnel and a deep-sea port and energy hub in Matarbari will be parts of bustling economic areas, which are expected to attract businesses and investors from across the globe.

Chattogram city desperately needs a metro rail system, agreed economist Dr Moinul Islam. But the government, he added, now needs to go through the proposals and decide which one to go with.

But he warned the government to be careful about making a decision about the Chinese offer to build a township.

"Chattogram definitely needs a mass rapid transit from Kalurghat to airport. I myself have been pushing for one for the last few years. But the government has to decide who will implement the project," said Dr Islam, a former president at Bangladesh Economic Association.

“China has built a Chinese city in Colombo, which turned out to be a big problem for Sri Lanka,” he said about the bay township proposal.

"The offer may seem lucrative, but it should be thoroughly examined," he went on, "accepting such a proposal without a prior scrutiny may cause trouble later on."

China offers to bankroll Chattogram metro rail, ‘smart city’. In return, it wants part of township profits

Four Chinese state-owned firms are keen to build the planned metro rail network along with a ‘smart city’ on the land reclaimed from the sea in Chattogram and will fully fund the costs. The catch is that they want a share of the profits from the township in return.

bdnews24.com

Give it to Chinese firms. I dont see the issue here. Theyre investing their own money so why shouldnt they also have the profit.

I believe the Chinese companies/ China is sweetening the offer of building the Chittagong Metro Rail by offering an additional offer of land reclamation/ development of an area near the seashore.

It seems China wants to offset the Korean railway offer with the additional offer of land reclamation. I may be wrong, though!!

If the subject Beachland is for reclamation or expansion, it is possible that China will ask the GoB to give permission to build its exclusive economic zone there that will attract Chinese investors to build factories there.

Here, Korean companies may be less reluctant in investing to build factories compared to China. So, by this offering of an additional proposal of land reclamation, I believe, China is sweetening the offer on the Metro Rail construction.

By the way, out of three Metro Line, Korea can be awarded at least one line, and China two. But knowing the Chinese mind, I believe, China will not like it.

China may want a monopoly business. Either all three or none - this is how they may bargain.

There are enough room for both Korea and China. BD has lots of opportunies to offer for both East Asian nations. I dont think the Chinese will feel bad if they dont get the whole share, because they know more opportunities will open up in other projects.

 

[mb444]

চট্টগ্রামে ফ্রিতে মেট্রোরেল করে দিয়ে সাগরপারে উপশহর চায় চীন

চীনের নির্মাণ প্রতিষ্ঠান চাইনিজ রেলওয়ে কনস্ট্রাকশন কোম্পানি লিমিটেড (সিআরসিসি) গত বছরের ২১শে মে সম্পূর্ণ নিজস্ব অর্থে চট্টগ্রামে মেট্রোরেল প্রকল্পের সম্ভাব্যতা যাচাই করার প্রস্তাব দিয়েছিল। এই বিষয়ে বেশ কিছুদিন ধরে কাজ করছে তারা। তবে এবার শুধু সম্ভাব্যতা যাচাই নয়, মেট্রোরেল নির্মাণের সম্ভাব্য ৮৬...

mzamin.com

China wants to develop a seabeach suburb in exchange for building a free city rail in Chittagong
Jalal Rumi, from Chittagong
First page 20 February 2022, Sunday

Chinese Railway Construction Company Limited (CRCC), a Chinese construction company, had on May 21 last year offered to explore the feasibility of a metro rail project in Chittagong at its own expense. They have been working on this for quite some time.

However, this time, not only the feasibility study but also the construction of the city rail costing from Taka 6 thousand crores to one lakh crore, all the state-owned companies of the country have said that they will give it as a grant.

In return, they want to build a suburb on Mirsarai in Chittagong on about 50,000 acres of land by the sea.

They will also give a part of the income of this suburb to Bangladesh. Hasan Bin Shams, the chief engineer of the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), told Manbajmin about the proposal, adding that four Chinese companies have jointly proposed to set up a free city rail in Chittagong. In return, they want to suburbanize 50,000 acres of land from Mirsarai to the Bay Terminal. They will build this suburb at their own expense.

And it will be under their control for a certain period of time. There, they will have various infrastructures including accommodations with all kinds of modern civic amenities. From there they will pay some income to CDA i.e. Bangladesh government. He said the government would take a decision after considering the proposal.

It is learned that in 2021, the Chinese company CRCC was supposed to be allowed to conduct the feasibility of Chittagong city rail. In the midst of various discussions, four Chinese organizations proposed to the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) to carry out the project at their own expense.

According to the proposal of Chinese companies, they will determine the route of the rail from Mirsarai Economic Zone of Chittagong to the airport and growth centers of the city. In this case also, they will bear all the expenses including the necessary survey.
The Bangladesh government does not have to spend any money on this.

According to the proposal, a total of four companies, including CCC and CRCC, would fill up parts of the Sandwip Channel from the Mirsarai Economic Zone to the Bay Terminal and build suburbs similar to Singapore and Dubai in exchange for building the free city rail. It will be done entirely at their expense. And until a certain time, this suburb will be completely under their control.

However, the extent of this time is not mentioned in the proposal. The proposal states that several countries, including Dubai, Japan and Sri Lanka, have projects to fill parts of the sea. The countries have benefited financially from this. There is no environmental problem.

According to sources, in the last five years, a number of companies have expressed interest in the city or Monorail project in Chittagong, but the project has not seen the light of day due to lack of funding. In addition to the Chinese company CRCC, South Korea's development partner Koika has expressed interest in the project.

Asked how much Bangladesh would benefit from the proposals made by the four Chinese companies, CDA chief engineer Hassan bin Shams said, "This will open a new door of economic potential in the region." There will be permanent employment for thousands of people. And this will be done by using the abandoned land on the seashore.

Several countries of the world have benefited from such projects. And since China is the world's economic superpower, our relationship with them will be even stronger. They will come forward in more different projects. According to the Chinese company, the project in Mirsarai will provide clear water in that part, like St. Martin in Cox's Bazar.

Former chairman of the Department of International Relations at the University of Chittagong and geopolitical analyst. Kamal Uddin told Manabzamin, "Four Chinese companies said they would do it for free. On the one hand, it is considered positive." But everything Free will has something hidden.

They will do such a big mega project, it will definitely be in their interest. The question of security is also involved.

Sounds too good to be true....

We need all the details....there is no such thing as free lunch and this offer is just unfeasibly good designed for the gullible

 

[Bilal9]

The usual skeptics spouting nonsense at the end, as a resident of Chittagong, this seems long overdue and the majority of people in the city will support this.



Also for the love of God, it's not chattogram, it's Chittagong, stop trying to get everything to conform to shuddo Bangla that isn't even spoken, with a decent amount of proficiency, by the vast majority of people in Chittagong district.

"Chattogram" was a re-naming proposed by Chetona crowd in Bangladesh, to conform to Indian drive re-naming cities back to Sanskrit names than other languages. Proud Hindutva tradition.

Sanghis re-named Allahabad back to Prayagraj and Gurgaon back to Gurugram, just a few examples among many. This is a BJP/VHP/RSS showcase effort to get patriot Hindutva votes in India.

BAL Chetona crowd thinks that re-naming everything to Sanskrit will please their Sanghi Hindutva masters.

 

[Bilal9]

Give it to Chinese firms. I dont see the issue here. Theyre investing their own money so why shouldnt they also have the profit.



There are enough room for both Korea and China. BD has lots of opportunies to offer for both East Asian nations. I dont think the Chinese will feel bad if they dont get the whole share, because they know more opportunities will open up in other projects.

Matarbari Port was supposed to be developed by China.

India raised a huge hue and cry sayin that this was tantamount to a security threat right next to India and they forced Hasina to give that to the Japanese. They were raising all kinds of paranoia stories like Bangladesh was committing to the same fate like Sri Lanka - blah blah blah.

This may be a similar situation here.

 

[Species]

Matarbari Port was supposed to be developed by China.

India raised a huge hue and cry sayin that this was tantamount to a security threat right next to India and they forced Hasina to give that to the Japanese. They were raising all kinds of paranoia stories like Bangladesh was committing to the same fate like Sri Lanka - blah blah blah.

This may be a similar situation here.

A weak government can never take decisions on strategic projects, China also offered to build the Ganges Barrage which would have solved the adverse effects of Farakka but Hasina cancelled the project because of India's objection.

 

[SuvarnaTeja]

The catch is that they want a share of the profits from the township in return.​

​

What if you don't get profits? Will BD has to surrender the Smart City to China?

 

[bluesky]

Matarbari Port was supposed to be developed by China.

India raised a huge hue and cry sayin that this was tantamount to a security threat right next to India and they forced Hasina to give that to the Japanese. They were raising all kinds of paranoia stories like Bangladesh was committing to the same fate like Sri Lanka - blah blah blah.

This may be a similar situation here.

Yes, everyone guessed that Matarbari Port would be built by China and Chinese money. But, finally. it was not given either to China or to India. Japan was given the project.

Perhaps, many people don't know that long before this port construction has been undertaken by Japan, it was a very famous Japanese civil engineering company that conducted the seabed contour survey funded by JICA.

Nihon/ Nippon Koei of Japan conducted the seabed contour survey of the entire BoB belonging to BD to map the spot depths of this Sea and to know which Beach areas are suitable for constructing deep ports.

This is how Matarbari came to the fore.

So, it was the right decision to give the Matarbari Port project to Japan/ Japanese companies. Now, neither China nor India can shout.

About this latest Chinese offer, let us see the Indian reaction. However, I understand that a country that can rival China is not present. India is just incapable to do it. It is a poor country. Korea has a shortage of engineering manpower.

However, China has money, ideas, manpower and suitable technologies and construction machinery both for Chittagong metro railways as well as the development of some huge areas in Patenga.

But, so far it is only one-sided talks. The govt of BD has not probably included the Chinese companies in the shortlist. We can just wait to see how the situation unfurls itself in the coming months. Today, it is only a newspaper guessing.

@mb444