Bangladesh
Bangabandhu Tunnel Bangabandhu Tunnel inauguration on Oct 28: Police want dog squad for security
Dhaka, Sept 7: The main work of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong has been completed. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has announced that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the tunnel on October 28. Now some ancillary work is going on around the tunnel.
Police officials are worried about the security of the tunnel, which is being built for the first time in the country's history. Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) also proposed two police stations at both ends of the tunnel. Although the ministry has not approved the police station so far. In this situation, for the time being, the city police has decided to operate the operation with two outposts in the port zone. Besides, Bandar Zone has requested additional force to the city police to ensure maximum security of KPI (Key Point Installation) of the project.
City Police DC (Headquarters) Abdul Warish said that the place has been fixed at both ends of the tunnel for the police station. Once approved, the installation process will begin. For the time being, the issue of security will be seen through the force of two police stations on both sides.
Meanwhile, when asked about the progress of the tunnel, Project Director Engineer Md. Harunur Rashid said that the work on the two roadways of the tunnel has been completed 100 percent. Construction of toll plaza and approach road has also been completed. Mechanical and electrical works are also in final stage. More than 98 percent of the total work of the entire project has been completed. After the inauguration in October, traffic will begin and ancillary works will also continue.
It is known that according to the pre-construction survey report, 63 lakh vehicles will be able to move through the tunnel every year after its opening. According to that, 17,260 cars can run in a day. By 2025, an average of 28,305 vehicles will travel through the tunnel every day. Half of which will be freight transport. By 2030, an average of 37,946 vehicles per day and by 2067, 1,62,000 vehicles have been targeted.
Those concerned said that this is the first tunnel in South Asia built under the river. By connecting the two banks of the Karnaphuli River, the initiative to build the tunnel was taken to build a 'one city to town' modeled on the Chinese city of Shanghai. Cox's Bazar will be easier to connect with Dhaka and Chittagong if the tunnel is opened. New factories will be built in south Chittagong.
