Construction of Karnaphuli tunnel to start at year-end

Construction of the tunnel under the river Karnaphuli will begin by the end of this year, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday.

He was talking to reporters after a visit to the site of the tunnel in Patenga area in Chittagong.

The estimated cost of the project is about Tk 8,000 crore and the project is expected to be completed in four years, said the minister, adding that China Communication Construction Company Limited is under contract to build the tunnel.

“All preparatory works will be completed by June-July and the construction work of the tunnel will begin at the end of this year,” he said, adding that the process of appointing consultants will begin next month.

The length of the tunnel is 3,400 metres while the west bank approach road will be 740 metres and the east bank approach road 4,952 metres, the minister said.