CHATTOGRAM, Dec 12, 2020 (BSS) – Construction work of the second tube of the Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnafuli River, the lifeline of Chattogram Port, has started.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader formally inaugurated the construction (boring activities) of the second and last tube of the country’s ever first tunnel through video conference today.
Engineer Harunur Rashid, director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel Project, told BSS that construction of the second tube of Bangabandhu Tunnel started from Anwara end to Chatogram.
The second tube will be constructed 12 meters away from the first tube constructed from Chattogram end to Anwara end.
The government took the initiative to build a tunnel under the Karnafuli River to connect the city’s Patenga and Anwara upazila of south Chattogram to make the port city ‘One City, Two Town’ model similar to the Chinese city of Shanghai.
“The total length of the proposed tunnel will be around 9.39 kilometres, including 3.34 kilometres of the main tunnel under the Karnaphuli River. it also includes an approach road of 4.89 kilometres alongside 826 metres of bridges constructed at a cost of about Tk 10,000 crore.,” Project Director (PD) Engineer Harunur Rashid Chowdhury told BSS here today.
Over eighty percent construction work of much-awaited Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River has so far been completed, he added.
The two tubes comprise four lanes and each tube measures 35 feet wide and 16 feet high.