Preliminary Environmental & Social Assessment/ Screening for Construction of Marine Drive Expressway and Coastal Protection Works

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project area covers a new alignment mostly along the coastal belt starting from Mirersarai (from Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway, N1) in Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar Section, a total length of 160 km. This alignment will provide an alternate to National Highway, N1 and will also serve as a corridor for Regional connectivity to Myanmar, India and China (BCIM Corridor). The proposed expressway will be mostly at-ground level with flyovers and bridges at certain points. The expressway will also use the ongoing Karnaphuli tunnel to cross the river. A massive coastal protection work will be required to protect the expressway from the Bay of Bengal. This screening will provide a concise assessment of the existing environmental and social conditions of the proposed alignment section and would also identify the sensitivity and risk involved
KEY SERVICES

The key activities performed under the preliminary environmental & social studies are as follows:

  • Review of alignment;
  • Site reconnaissance and field visit;
  • Review of all available documents which is procured from secondary sources;
  • Consultation with different level stakeholders to share about the proposed alignment and seek opinion on these;
  • Socioeconomic condition and livelihood patter along the project alignment;
  • Environmental setting along with project alignment;
  • Preparation of screening checklist using important environment and social components;
  • Identification of impacts and probable mitigation measures;

Screening findings & recommendations

PROJECT VALUE
BDT 2,371,800/ USD 30,408
SECTOR
Transport
CLIENT
China Harbor Engineering Corporation/ CDR International B.V., Netherlands