Bangabandhu tunnel opening deferred for third time

CHATTOGRAM: The opening of Bangabandhu tunnel, which was previously scheduled to open to traffic this month, has been deferred until a later time.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, the country's first-ever tunnel under the river Karnaphuli, was scheduled to open to traffic in December last year. But the authorities deferred the time until March this year. Now, the opening of the tunnel has been postponed for the third time.

Project Director Harunur Rashid said, "The construction work of the Bangabandhu Tunnel is almost complete. We are just giving the finishing touch and checking the safety systems now."

"After the completion of the total work, other issues, including driving through the tunnel, will be checked and then it will open to traffic."

Asked about the possible new date of opening of the tunnel, he said the government will take the decision in this regard.

The total length of the tunnel will be around 9.092 kilometres, including 3.40 kilometres under the Karnaphuli River with an approach road of 4.89 kilometres alongside 740 metres of bridges linking the main port city and western side of the Karnaphuli along with the heavy industry-prone eastern side of the river.

The multilane tunnel will directly connect Chittagong port and South  Chattogram particularly the Anwara upazila. It will make communication between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar easier. The tunnel will also ease traffic congestion on two bridges over the Karnaphuli River.

According to the sources, the total expenditure cost of the tunnel project was Tk 84.46 billion while China is providing Tk 55.05 billion.

The rest of the amount is provided by the Bangladesh government.

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