At least 50% construction work of Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River has so far been completed, an official said.
Two tubes, measuring 2,450 meters each, are being constructed in the tunnel said its Project Director (PD) Engineer Harunur Rashid Chowdhury said on Tuesday, reports BSS.
“Construction work of 1,220 meters of Anowara upazila-bound tube has already been completed, and if favorable weather prevails and no natural calamities take place the installation of rings in the two tubes will be finished by next May or June,” he said.
The two tubes comprise of four lanes and each tube is 35 feet wide and 16 feet high. The total project work is expected to be completed by 2022.
The acquisition of 383 acres of land for the tunnel’s approach roads has also been completed.
Bangladesh Bridge Authority is constructing the 3.5 kilometre-long Bangladesh first-ever four-lane Bangabandhu tunnel under Karnaphuli River with an approach road of 4.89 kilometres alongside 740 meters of bridge linking the main port city with southern regions of Chattogram, sources said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the President of China Xi Jinping laid foundation stone of the tunnel on Oct 14, 2017.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the boring work of the tunnel in February last.
The estimated cost of the tunnel is Tk 98.8 billion, where Chinese Exim Bank will provide Tk 59.13 billion.
Chinese firm ‘China Communication Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), has been appointed as consultant for the tunnel.
The multilane tunnel route will pass through the river close to Navy College on one side and Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO) on the other side.
The tunnel will connect Chattogram Port and Anowara Upazila and is expected to make communication between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar easier alongside reducing traffic congestion on two bridges over the Karnaphuli River.