Bangabandhu Tunnel’s 98pc construction work finished

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram is getting ready for traffic as 98 percent construction work is finished so far.

"Now the finishing touch is going on because Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the tunnel in September," Project Director Md Harunur Rashid Chowdhury told BSS.

He said workers and engineers concerned are working round the clock for opening the much-awaited tunnel in September.

"Already 98 percent of the tunnel work has been completed. The remaining two percent work will be completed soon. However, the project tenure will end on December 30," he said.

The project director said there is no major work in the tunnel, while both tubes are ready, adding, "If everything goes well, then we can finish the work by August. However, the ministry will decide when it will be inaugurated."

Earlier, Road, Transport, and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at a function said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.

According to project details, the tunnel will actually turn Chattogram into "one city with two towns". It is being constructed beneath the Karnaphuli river and it is expected to be opened for vehicular movement in September this year.

The multi-lane tunnel will directly connect the Chattogram Port with Anwara upazila, which will directly connect Cox's Bazar with Chattogram.

The project details said, two tubes have been constructed within an 11-metre gap so that heavy vehicles can pass through the tunnel easily.

The length of the tunnel is 3.40km with an approach road of 5.35km alongside a 740m bridge linking the main city, port and the western side of the river with its eastern side.

As part of the project, bridges, totalling 740m in length have been built, linking the main port city and western side of Karnaphuli river with the heavily industrialising eastern side of the river and Anwara upazila.