Bangladesh
Bangabandhu Tunnel 98% construction of Bangabandhu Tunnel completed
Dhaka, August 5: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under Karnaphuli River in Chittagong is getting ready for traffic as 98 percent of the construction work has been completed.
Project Director Md. Harunur Rashid Chowdhury said that now the final stage work is going on. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the tunnel next September. He said workers and engineers are working day and night to inaugurate the much-awaited tunnel in September.
He said that 98 percent of the tunnel work has already been completed. The remaining two percent work will be completed soon. The deadline of the project is December 30.
The project director said that there is no other major work in the tunnel. If everything goes well, we will be able to complete the work by August, he said, noting that both the tubes are ready. But the ministry will decide when it will be inaugurated.
Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said in an event that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.
According to the project description, the tunnel will actually turn Chittagong into 'One City with Two Towns'. It is being constructed under the Karnaphuli River and is expected to be opened for traffic in September this year. The multilane tunnel will directly connect Chittagong Port to Anwara Upazila, which will also directly connect Cox's Bazar to Chittagong.
According to the project description, two tubes have been constructed at an interval of 11 meters so that heavy vehicles can easily pass through the tunnel.
The length of the tunnel is 3.40 km. A bridge of 740 meters with an approach road of 5.35 km connects the main port city and the western end of the river. As part of the project, a total length of 740 meters bridge has been constructed connecting the main port city and the west side of the Karnaphuli river with the east side of the river and Anwara upazila.
