M Iqbal Hossain, Ctg bureau 
Commitment to Alleviate Traffic Congestion, One-Month Ultimatum Issued In an effort to resolve the growing traffic congestion in Chattogram city, ensure the implementation of approved building plans, and inspect the actual parking situation at private hospitals, Engineer Belayet Hossain, Chairman of the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), conducted on-site inspections on Thursday. Led by him, a high-powered team composed of senior CDA officials inspected National Hospital, Max Hospital, Aristocare Hospital, three branches of Epic Hospital, and Popular Hospital located in the city’s Mehedibag and Panchlaish areas.
During the inspection, severe irregularities regarding approved designs, land use, parking, and fire safety measures were uncovered at almost every hospital. Some were operating hospitals after securing approvals for residential or residential-cum-commercial buildings, while others had built shops, washing plants, prayer spaces, or other structures by encroaching on approved parking areas. Most hospitals lacked adequate parking facilities for patients. As a result, vehicles parked on the roads in front of these hospitals cause severe traffic congestion.
National Hospital was found operating under an approval meant for a residential-cum-commercial building. Although the approved plan showed 50 parking spaces, only 28 actually existed on-site. The remaining parking area was built over with various structures, including a washing plant. The hospital authority assured that they would fully clear the parking area within a month, increase the number of parking spaces to at least 35, and acquire adjacent land to build additional parking. Furthermore, the hospital’s fire extinguishing system was found inadequate, and piles of garbage were seen on the sole emergency fire escape staircase.
No patient vehicles were seen in Max Hospital’s parking area; most of the space was occupied by doctors’ cars and other structures. The CDA instructed the immediate removal of all structures, including a prayer space in the parking area, to make it fully accessible. Instructions were also issued to remove the portion of the hospital’s front facade that creates an obstruction on the road and bring it down to road level. Parking facilities here were also found insufficient compared to the demand.
Although newly constructed Aristocare Hospital was built under approval for a residential building, it had not obtained the required Land Use Clearance to operate as a hospital. Consequently, a notice under Section 3-B had previously been issued to the institution. The inspection revealed major deviations from the approved design and extremely limited parking.
The highest number of irregularities were found across various buildings of Epic Hospital. Apart from operating a hospital under a residential building approval, deviation included installing lifts outside the approved plan, renting out commercial shops in the parking area, failing to maintain a driveway, and the absence of fire safety measures. The CDA authority ordered an immediate halt to all operations in the hospital’s extension building.
Although Popular Hospital obtained approval for a residential-cum-commercial building, it constructed its building by completely encroaching upon the 40-foot open space designated in the plan. Additionally, while another adjacent building was connected to it, the authority could not produce any approved design for it.
At the end of the inspection, the CDA authority directed the respective hospital management teams to report to the CDA building next Monday, bringing along their approved designs, Land Use Clearances, and all related documents. The files for each institution will be reviewed in detail there.
Expressing anger over the irregularities found at the hospitals following the inspection, CDA Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossain stated, “Regrettably, most hospitals are operating under approvals for residential or residential-cum-commercial buildings. Yet, a hospital is a high-occupancy facility. Accordingly, ensuring parking, fire safety, earthquake resistance, and other safety measures is mandatory.”
He added, “There is no parking for patients, yet doctors’ cars occupy the parking spaces for long durations. Arrangements should be made so that doctors’ vehicles enter the hospital premises only during arrival and departure. No structures of any kind can be kept in the parking area.”
He further said, “Considering the public interest, the hospitals are being given one month. If visible progress is not made within this timeframe, the CDA will take strict legal action.”
CDA Chairman also issued instructions to take necessary measures to relieve traffic congestion, including closing unnecessary U-turns in front of the hospitals, improving road management, and ensuring smooth vehicle movement.
Present during the inspection were CDA Member (Engineering) Md. Jamilur Rahman, Chief Engineer Ahmed Anwarul Nazrul, Secretary Md. Mahbubul Karim, Superintending Engineer and Chairman of Building Construction Committee-2 A.G.M. Salim, Executive Engineer and Project Director Md. Mahfuzur Rahman, Authorized Officer-1 Kazi Kader Newaz, Authorized Officer-2 Tanjib Hossain, along with other relevant senior officials and engineers of the CDA.
