POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Oct 6, 2021:Excavation of the second tunnel or tube of the Karnafuli Tunnel project in Chittagong is nearing completion. The rest is only 10 meters. It may take only two more days to dig. This means that the excavation is expected to be completed by next Friday.
With the completion of excavation of two tunnels, the complex work of Karnafuli Tunnel Project will be completed, said the engineers of the project. All that is left is road construction and other works, where there is no such challenge.
The project is expected to be completed in December 2022. However, the tunnel is expected to be opened before then. With this, vehicles coming from different parts of the country including Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar and South Chittagong will no longer have to enter Chittagong city. The city will be able to reach the destination in the fastest time through the tunnel via the Outer Ring Road. This will reduce the traffic congestion in Chittagong city.
However, this project will play a big role after the opening of the deep seaport and economic zone at Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar. After the deep seaport at Matarbari, vehicles will be able to move easily through this tunnel through Chittagong.
Another special aspect of the Karnafuli Tunnel project is that the duration and cost of the project did not have to be increased. There has been an increase in the duration and cost of large projects in the country.
It is said that the project is not completed on time. Only time is extended. Money is also increased. But this did not happen in the case of Karnafuli tunnel.
Planning Minister MA Mannan told a press conference after a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday. Only time is extended. Money is also increased. But this did not happen in the case of Karnafuli tunnel. He said work on the tunnel project was being completed ahead of schedule.
Expenditure Rs 10,364 crore
The Karnafuli tunnel will connect Chittagong city and Anwara upazila. Karnafuli river divides Chittagong city into two parts. One part has cities and ports and the other part has heavy industrial areas. Three bridges have already been built over the Karnafuli river. However, it is not enough to handle the pressure of vehicles.
Initiatives were taken to build the tunnel for this, the contract was signed on November 24, 2015. Earlier in 2014, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Bangladesh and China for the implementation of the project. The Chinese government nominated China Communication and Construction Company (CCCC) Limited, a Chinese company, to build the tunnel. After the completion of design and other works, the construction of the tunnel started on 24 February 2019. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the function.
The cost of construction of the tunnel is Tk 10,384 crore. The country’s first tunnel under construction at the bottom of the river has been named after Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
According to project sources, the length of the main tunnel is 3.32 km. The length of each tunnel in the tunnel is 2.45 km. The two tunnels will have a total of four lanes, two each. There will be 5.35 km connecting road at the western and eastern ends with the main tunnel. And at the end of Anwara there is a 726 meter long flyover.
A tunnel is being constructed at a depth of 18 to 31 meters along the bottom of Karnafuli river. Each 35 feet wide and 16 feet high.
The excavation of the first tunnel started from the Patenga end of Chittagong city. This work was completed on August 2 last year. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader inaugurated the excavation of the second tunnel on December 12 last year. The excavation started from the Anwara end of Chittagong.
The people involved in the project said that while it took 18 months to dig the first tunnel at the bottom of the river, it took only 10 months to dig the second tunnel.
Meanwhile, road construction is underway in the first tunnel after the completion of excavation. Already 1,623 meters of ‘slab’ casting work has been completed. Work on the flyover at Anwara is also in the final stages. Besides, construction work of 5.35 km long connecting road at Nagar and Anwara is also underway.
According to the latest progress report, work on the tunnel project has progressed by 83 per cent till September. Project Director Harunur Rashid Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that the excavation of the second tunnel will be completed by next Friday. The work is progressing rapidly under the guidance of the top echelons of the government.
‘Don’t take too much time after excavation’ In 2022, some big projects are going to be launched in the country. The name of the Padma Bridge will come first. The government says the Padma Bridge will be opened to traffic by next June. The Dhaka Metro Rail section from Agargaon to Diabari is expected to carry passengers next year. The capital is expected to have an elevated expressway from the airport to Tejgaon in 2022. The bus rapid transit project from the airport to Gazipur may also be opened next year. All in all, people will start getting the benefits of some big projects from next year. However, there are questions about repeated cost increases, procrastination and human suffering in a few projects. Asked about the Karnafuli tunnel, economist Professor Moinul Islam told Prothom Alo: The Karnafuli Tunnel is not like any other project. It depends on the machine (tunnel boring machine). The work is progressing fast due to excavation through this machine. However, after the completion of the excavation, it should not take much time to complete the rest. The tunnel should be opened to traffic by July next year. Noting that the Karnafuli Tunnel will have a very positive impact on the country’s economy, Professor Moinul Islam said the tunnel will expand urbanization, industrialization and port activities on the south bank of the Karnafuli River. New economic zones will be formed from Anwara to Cox’s Bazar. Besides, there will be an industrial corridor (industrialization around the road) from Bangabandhu Industrial City in Mirsarai to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar. Industrialization and port activities will be expanded. New economic zones will be formed from Anwara to Cox’s Bazar. Besides, there will be an industrial corridor (industrialization around the road) from Bangabandhu Industrial City in Mirsarai to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar. Industrialization and port activities will be expanded. New economic zones will be formed from Anwara to Cox’s Bazar. Besides, there will be an industrial corridor (industrialization around the road) from Bangabandhu Industrial City in Mirsarai to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar. Due to the tunnel, urbanization, industrialization and port activities will be expanded on the south bank of Karnafuli river. New economic zones will be formed from Anwara to Cox’s Bazar. Besides, there will be an industrial corridor (industrialization around the road) from Bangabandhu Industrial City in Mirsarai to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar. Due to the tunnel, urbanization, industrialization and port activities will be expanded on the south bank of Karnafuli river. New economic zones will be formed from Anwara to Cox’s Bazar. Besides, there will be an industrial corridor (industrialization around the road) from Bangabandhu Industrial City in Mirsarai to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.
