Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf Marine Drive (Bengali: কক্সবাজার–টেকনাফ মেরিন ড্রাইভ) is an 80-kilometre-long road from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf along the Bay of Bengal and it is the world’s longest marine drive. It was inaugurated on 6 May 2017, by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[1]
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| Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf Marine Drive | ||||
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority | ||||
| Length | 80 km (50 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| North end | Kolatoli Square, Cox's Bazar | |||
| South end | Shapla Square, Teknaf | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Bangladesh | |||
| Major cities | Cox's Bazar, Teknaf | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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History
editThis road was first planned to be constructed in 1989. In 1993, the then government finalized the 48 km long marine drive project for construction. However, after the completion of the construction of a few kilometers, its work was terminated and later the incomplete road was washed away by the strong currents of the Bay of Bengal. Its construction resumed in 1995, when the Bangladesh Army was tasked with its construction.[2] Construction work started for the second time in 2008 after the work was stopped for a few years.[3] Construction of the road from Kolatoli to Inani was completed by 2015.[1] As of December 2016, 60% of the first and second phase has been constructed.[4] This road built at a cost of ৳456 crore was inaugurated on 5 May 2017.[5] On 28 June 2022 Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the widening project of the road.[6] At least ten parts of the road were damaged by a storm in August 2023 and at one point part of the road disappeared into the sea.[1]
Tourism
editOn 26 June 2018, the road was declared as preserved tourist zone by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.[7] Since 2020, a bus operated by Caravan Services has been providing regular transport services for tourists on this road.[8]
Gallery
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Cox's Bazar Marine Drive crumbling into sea". Dhaka Tribune. 3 August 2023. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "প্রস্তুত মেরিন ড্রাইভ সড়ক, আসছেন প্রধানমন্ত্রী". Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "মেরিন ড্রাইভ সড়ক নির্মাণে জীবন দিয়েছেন ছয় সেনা". Dhaka Times (in Bengali). 6 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Works on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf-Sabrang marine drive on". New Age. 7 December 2016. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "PM inaugurates Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive". Prothom Alo. 6 May 2017. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Cox's Bazar Marine Drive widening project approved". Daily Sun. 29 June 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Govt to declare marine drive as preserved tourist zone". The Independent. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ Khan, Abdul Monayem (28 February 2020). "Sightseeing bus hits Cox's Bazar marine drive". The Financial Express. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
