ABSTRACT

This is an EIA report on Dhaka – Chittagong

Expressway PPP, which is a government
project executed by Ministry of
Communication (MOC). The government
received a loan from Asian Development
Bank (ADB) to construct this project. The
ADB provided a ToR for the project. This
EIA report is only based on that ToR. The
main focus of the ToR is the environmental
impact, mitigation and monitoring of those
impact.

ENVIROMENTAL Md. Farid Ahmed Miftah (1631204625)

Course: ENV-373
Submitted To: Dr. Md Jakariya (Jky)

IMPACT
ASSESMENT
Dhaka – Chittagong Expressway
Table of Contents
1 Introduction: .............................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Background: ........................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Need for the Project: ........................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Scope of Environmental Assessment:................................................................................ 1
1.4 Objectives of the EIA: ........................................................................................................ 2
2 Environmental Impacts: ............................................................................................................ 2
2.1 Impact Assessment Methodology: ..................................................................................... 2
2.2 Pre-Construction Period: Project Location and Design: ................................................ 3
2.3 Construction Period Environmental Effects: ................................................................... 3
3 Mitigation Measures: ................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Table for Pre-Construction Period................................................................................ 5
3.2 Table for Construction Period ....................................................................................... 6
4 Monitoring plans:....................................................................................................................... 6
4.1 Table for Pre-Construction Period................................................................................ 6
4.2 Table for Construction Period ....................................................................................... 7
5 Conclusion: ................................................................................................................................. 7

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1 Introduction:
The Government of Bangladesh (the Government) has received a loan from Asian Development
Bank (ADB) for the Dhaka – Chittagong Expressway PPP Design TA Loan (the Project) and
intends to apply a portion of proceeds to engage firms of international consultants (the
consultants) to prepare the feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs for a new access
controlled expressway between Dhaka and Chittagong.
1.1 Background:
The Ministry of Communications (MOC) is wholly responsible for the implementation of ADB
financed projects, as agreed jointly between the borrower and ADB, and in accordance with
Government and ADB’s policies and procedures. ADB staff is responsible to support
implementation including compliance by MOC of their obligations and responsibilities for
project implementation in accordance with ADB’s policies and procedures.
SMEC is the lead of a consortium providing consultancy services for the Dhaka-Chittagong
Expressway Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Design Project in Bangladesh.
Over 20,000 motorized vehicles use the highway each day, resulting in serious congestion, and
as a result the 220 km journey can take up to 10 hours. Upon completion, the Dhaka-Chittagong
Expressway will help to increase trade and reduce congestion on the existing highway.
The overall goal of this Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project is to reduce journey
times, improve road safety and accommodate future growth.
1.2 Need for the Project:
Dhaka and Chittagong are the two major metropolitan areas of Bangladesh. Dhaka is the main
commercial and administrative center of the country and Chittagong is the primary seaport; with
the two accounting for about 90% of imports and exports. More than a quarter of Bangladesh's
population of 150 million lives in the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor. Therefore, Chittagong
Expressway Project is a top priority. Implementation of the Project will significantly benefit
various sectors of the economy of Bangladesh.
1.3 Scope of Environmental Assessment:
Following the instruction of Department of Environment (DoE) the following steps should be
taken:
 Conduct field visit, reconnaissance survey and consultation with local
stakeholders;
 Collect primary data on water resources, land resources, agriculture,
livestock, fisheries, ecosystems and socio-economic condition through focus
group discussion (FGD), rapid rural appraisal (RRA), participatory rural
appraisal (PRA), questionnaire survey (QS) and other method for the
establishment of baseline conditions of the Project;
 identify important environmental and social components likely to be impacted
by the proposed Project;

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  Assess environmental and social impacts of the proposed interventions of
the double line railway development;
 Conduct comprehensive public consultations; and
 Include in the environmental assessment report an environmental
management plan (EMP) which includes a listing of mitigation table (EMiT)
and monitoring table (EMoT) as well timing and responsibility.

1.4 Objectives of the EIA:

The overall objective of the EIA is to ensure that the Project is developed in an environmentally
sound and sustainable manner ensuing that all negative effects are mitigated as best as practical
and positive impacts are enhanced. More specifically, the EIA aims to identify the likely
potential impacts likely to be generated by the Project; to quantify and where possible value
these, providing The Ministry of Communications (MOC) with a set of actions it needs to
implement in order to meet national and international environmental safeguard standards.

2 Environmental Impacts:
An environmental impact is defined as any change to an existing condition of
the environment. Findings of the assessment are presented according to preconstruction,
construction and operational periods. The impacts will be determined as significant, positive or
negative, direct or indirect, long term or short term. The magnitudes of environmental effects
have been expressed quantitatively where possible, but in most cases qualitative evaluations are
made based on past experience. This Chapter of the Environmental Impact Assessment report
describes the probable environmental effects resulting from Project implementation during the
pre-construction, construction period of the Project

2.1 Impact Assessment Methodology:

Reliable assessment of potential impacts necessitated a multi-disciplinary approach in which a
wide range of issues were taken into consideration. The activities of the Project have the
potential to impact the environment, society and economy in both positive and negative ways,
and these were identified and assessed in this report. There shall be strict guidelines to manage
environmental and social aspects during implementation of the Project. The Contractor will
consider the environmental implications of all components incorporated into the Project. A
detailed schedule of the environmental initiatives is to be prepared by the Contractor in
accordance with this EMP. The Contractor is to prepare an Environmental Management Plan
inclusive of construction activities control for the construction phase of the project, for approval
by the MOC Review Team. The physical, biological, socio-economic and health aspects have
been categorized into the following.

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2.2 Pre-Construction Period: Project Location and Design:
1. Terrestrial Flora and Fauna: Major impact will be from the Project activities of the road
alignment, land acquisition, associated facilities, and demolition of some existing
buildings and construction of station buildings. The alignment will require the removal of
thousands of trees, each with their own economic, biological, eco-functional and aesthetic
significance.
2. Land Use: the most significant potential impacts on land use in the Project area will be
encroachment, acquisition agricultural land (primarily rice paddy) and its permanent loss
to the new expressway line. The potential secondary impacts are likely to be trimming of
roadside vegetation such as fences and temporary relocation of fence lines at station areas,
neither of which would be expected to constitute a significant and permanent impact to
land use.
3. Employment and Livelihood: residential structures will have to be acquired and
relocated. These structures range from kacha (earthen house) to concrete structures. The
livelihoods of individuals and communities may be impacted by the Project, through the
loss of productive agricultural and loss of income. In addition, displacement from
ancestral homes and loss of employment due to demolition of industrial and commercial
structures will be important impacts to mitigate.
4. Heritage and Culture: In the Project area heritage and culture may be affected by the
construction of the proposed expressway. The list includes religious institutions or
structures, community based associations or institutions, educational institutions.
5. Construction Materials Transportation Plan: This will cause unnecessary degradation
of roads and areas surrounding along the alignment, due to dust traffic congestion and
safety.
6. Environmentally Responsive Design Considerations: Failure of the design engineers to
consider environmentally responsible design that minimizes immediate as well as long
term impact during the construction and operating periods will jeopardize the
implementation. Focus design work on minimizing intrusion into natural waters, timing of
work to minimize wildlife interference, maintenance of surface runoff and planning
location of work camps that minimizes short and long term negative effects.
7. Station and Building Design: Inadequate provisions for sewage, sanitation and garbage
management may lead to chronic problems. The design shall consider estimated passenger
throughput at each station and waste facilities to manage all conditions.

2.3 Construction Period Environmental Effects: Construction period effects are those
resulting directly or indirectly from a construction activity; be it site clearing or hauling material
along a public road or dredging sand from a river. The construction period section of the EMP
lists the impacts which require mitigation, the mitigative measures to be used, where they need to
be applied, when and by whom. This Chapter of the EIA identifies how construction-related
impacts affect the key components of the environment. Secondly, a set of mitigative measures
describe proposed actions to be taken by the contractor so as to avoid or minimize negative
impacts to these components of the environment.

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1. Air Quality and Dust: All earthworks construction, site clearing, dry materials
stockpiling, station and small structures demolition, operation of batch plants, and hauling
of materials will generate dust and affect the local air shed. Road dust from the
construction of rail line and upgrading of station access roads is likely to be the most
significant direct potential impact on the local community. The mitigative measures
required of the contractor will include.
a. Trucks transporting fine materials, soil and waste to and from the Project site
will be covered to reduce the release of dust;
b. Generators, compressors, and other equipment to be shut down when not in
use;
c. Air emission monitoring program to be undertaken quarterly by the
contractor, according to the design specified in the EMP and the contract
specifications.
d. Site and station access roads, construction and other disturbed areas to be
stabilized e.g., with crushed concrete/brick or regularly wet down along
heavily used haul roads to reduce dust generation in populated areas; and
e. Section on compliance monitoring checklist to be completed.
2. Topography and Landscape: The impacts to site topography will be due to the
construction of the road embankment, the access roads and station buildings which will
rise above known landmarks. Given that the majority of the surrounding land
is in flat topography, is under cultivation with rice and is used for grazing, the visual
intrusion of large piles of embankment materials and ballast obstructing views may be
considerable but temporary. Given that an elevated embankment already exists, these
temporary added obstructions will not seem so out of place and material storage areas
will be cleared as soon as they are no longer needed.
3. Surface Water Quality and Hydrology: Reduction of natural surface water drainage and
degradation of surface water quality is common at construction sites. The contractor will
be required to carefully control all wastes and manage the use of petroleum products.
4. Noise: Potential noise impacts vary, and are based on the noise amplitude, frequency,
distance from receivers, site landscape features, topography, presence of obstacles,
and meteorological effects. The severity of potential noise and vibration impacts is also
linked to the typical background noise and vibration environment e.g., urban or rural.
Key Project-related noise sources are the existing traffic, generators, vehicles,
construction equipment, and people.
5. Contractor Camp Management: Environmental health issues and disease contamination
are common in labor camps. This would stem from poor work camp conditions,
inadequate and unsanitary toilet facilities, lack of potable water and sanitary washing
areas.

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3 Mitigation Measures: the mitigation measures for the environmental impact
identified above is explained using a table below.

3.1 Table for Pre-Construction Period

Project Period and Mitigation Measures Who will
Environmental Supervise
Parameters
Trees and Notice of removal of trees and proper compensation to MOC
Landscape affected people.
MOC or local NGOs will ensure planting of at least three
trees for every one cut. As each section of the construction
work is completed, trees and understory vegetation must be
planted, in order to help the cleared areas in an effort to
attract some wildlife such as birds.
Land Use The detailed guidelines for land acquisition and MOC
compensation must be followed and implied. The plan must
be revised multiple times to reduce the use of land as much
as possible.
Employment and Direct and indirect loss of income MOC
Livelihood will be compensated
Heritage and The relocation and demolition must be done after MOC
Culture consultation with local communities.
Construction Utilities will only be removed and relocated with proper MOC
Materials agency approvals and permits.
Transportation Plan
Environmentally The design must be made to be as much as environment MOC
Responsive Design friendly as possible.
Considerations
Station and The design of all waste, water and access for each station MOC
Building Design and building will be designed using the estimated passenger
through-put at each station.

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 3.2 Table for Construction Period
Project Period and Mitigation Measures Who will
Environmental Supervise
Parameters
Air Quality and A dust suppression programme will be used at all times Engineer
Dust during construction of embankment, stations, buildings and
placement of ballast.
Topography and Topsoil storage areas must be protected during the dry Engineer
Landscape season from wind erosion by covering. Rapid re-vegetation
and use of hydro-seeding and jute erosion protection mats
will be applied in areas where erosion is noted during the
regular monthly inspections.
Surface Water I. Ensure all earthworks are constructed according to design Engineer
Quality and and specifications.
Hydrology II. Wastes, effluents and other contaminant materials at
camp/work sites to be stored, handled, transported and
disposed in planned manners.
Noise Keep noise pollution at ≤ 60 dB (Bangladesh standard) levels at Engineer
mosque, school, populated area and other sensitive sites by
erection of temporary baffles if needed. Work timing restrictions
if noise levels, based on field measures indicate exceedances.
Contractor will also be required to use only well maintained
functioning equipment.
Contractor Camp Construct fences separating the construction sites at rail stations MOC
Management from public access, and manage train movements in collaboration
with BR dispatch staff. Contractors must at all times insure the
local people needing to move from one side of the construction.

4 Monitoring plans: A table is prepared to identify the monitoring plan for all the
mitigation measured that are take.

4.1 Table for Pre-Construction Period

Monitoring Details of Monitoring Action to be Undertaken Who will
Parameters Supervise
Trees and Confirm that a tree cutting and replanting programme is MOC
Landscape fully ready to implement when during the pre-construction
period
Confirm that this planting plan is in agreement with local
people who lost food-trees.
Land Use MOC
Employment and MOC
Livelihood
Heritage and Inspect relocation and protection activates during this MOC
Culture period and obtain written agreement from local
communities.

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 Construction Confirm that permits. Location and relocation site MOC
Materials plans have been approved
Transportation Plan
Environmentally MOC
Responsive Design
Considerations
Station and Compare the estimate of station passenger/user throughput MOC
Building Design for 2030 and check that sewage. Garbage and water system
can cope with the discharges

4.2 Table for Construction Period

Monitoring Details of Monitoring Action to be Undertaken Who will
Parameters Supervise
Air Quality and Throughout the construction period: During dry Engineer
Dust season undertake air quality testing at major bridge and
station and buildings construction sites
Topography and Inspect storage areas and record state of storage areas with 2 Engineer
Landscape photos, and then report level of erosion and on-site dust.
Inspect embankment construction areas for erosion and
repair
Surface Water Inspect waste and field management at camps and record Engineer
Quality and actions taken when non-compliance are recorded.
Hydrology
Conduct surface water quality testing for pH, Turbidity,
Temperature, DO, BOD5, COD, TSS, TDS, oil and grease
Noise Check noise readings if they are in the range or not. Engineer
Contractor Camp Random check of 10% of the labor force, and check that MOC
Management laborers have contract letters and check age, working
conditions and documentation

5 Conclusion:
Like any other mega project this project will cause many environmental impacts. The impacts
are reversible and most of the impacts are minimized on site. These impacts are not permanent
and the range of these impact will not be very far from the construction site. Social impacts
especially associated with land acquisition and the need to relocate people and to use productive
agricultural lands, will be significant and will affect thousands of people. But this is small price
to pay for the development of the country.