CHATTOGRAM: The authority has already completed 80 per cent construction work of the Karnaphuli tunnel, first of its kind in the country.
The officials concerned have, however, expressed the hope that the work of the tunnel will be completed by December this year.
Project director Harunur Rashid said the construction work of Karnaphuli tunnel will be completed within the stipulated time (December, 2022).
"Around 80 per cent work of the total project has been completed so far. We have also set up slabs on the tube."
They had completed the work of roads on the tunnel and the work of approach roads, he said. "We are trying our best to complete the total work by the current year."
Coronavirus hampered the construction work seriously. During the period between February and March 2020, the work almost remained stopped due to holidays and lockdowns. After withdrawal of lockdown, the work is now going on in full swing, he added.
It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the excavation work under the Karnaphuli River on February 24 in 2019.
Deputy Minister for Education Muhibul Hasan Chowdhury, MP in a cabinet meeting proposed that the first-ever tunnel of the country be named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The cabinet meeting and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also agreed to the proposal.
According to sources, the total cost of the Karnaphuli Tunnel project is estimated at Tk 84.46 billion while China is providing Tk 55.05 billion. The rest of the amount is provided by the government of Bangladesh.
Sources said 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 and 740 metres bridges linking the main port city and western side of the Karnaphuli along with the heavy industry-prone eastern side of the river.
After completion, the tunnel will cut the road distance between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar and facilitate traffic on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway entering the port city to go to other parts of Chattogram division.
The multilane tunnel route will pass through the river close to Navy College on one side and Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (KAFCO) on the other. It will connect Chittagong port and Anwara upazila and is expected to make communication between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar easier. It will also ease traffic congestion on two bridges over the Karnaphuli River.
