Another dream coming true

The construction of the country's first under-river tunnel has reached a major milestone after the completion of a tube, a success Bangladesh Bridge Authority will celebrate today with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joining the programme virtually.

Named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the two-tube tunnel under the Karnaphuli river will be partially opened to vehicular movement by January next year after the end of some electrical and mechanical works, officials said.

The overall progress of the country's second dream scheme after the Padma Bridge now stands at 95 percent and it is expected to be fully completed by the end of December 2023.

Visiting the tunnel area yesterday, PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus said, "Tomorrow, we will celebrate the completion of the tunnel's south tube. However, the tunnel will be partially opened to traffic by the end of January 2023."

He added, "The tunnel will reduce the distance between Cox's Bazar and Chattogram by 40km. In addition to radical changes in the communication system, the tunnel will significantly reduce traffic congestion on both sides of the river. It will also create a huge opportunity for increased economic activities on both sides of the river.

The Karnaphuli divides Chattogram into two parts. The tunnel being built following the "one city two towns" model like Shanghai in China will connect the port city on the north end with Anwara upazila on the south.

It will be used as an alternative route to Cox's Bazar, Teknaf and Matarbari and northern Chattogram, and it will play an important role in improving the Asian Highway Network, strengthening connectivity between Bangladesh and neighbouring countries.

The tunnel is being constructed at a depth of 18 to 31 metres under the Karnaphuli and the length of the main tunnel is 3.32km. The length of each of the two tubes, having four lanes, is 2.45km. There will be a 5.35km connecting road at the western and eastern ends of the main tunnel and a 727m flyover at the Anwara end.

China Communication Construction Company Ltd is construing the tunnel with more than 800 workers deployed.

According to the monthly progress report of the project in October, civil engineering works of the project are almost at the final stage. Electrical and mechanical works, including installation of lamps, fireproof plates, decorative plates, pumps, power supply and ventilation system, are now going on in full swing.

In November 2015, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the multi-lane road tunnel project at a cost of Tk 8,446.64 crore and the project duration was set for December 2021.

The cost was later increased to Tk 10,374.42 crore and the project period extended to December 2022.

In the latest revision, the project duration has been extended till December 30, 2023, and the cost was increased by Tk 164 crore.

Sent to the Planning Commission earlier this month, this revision has already been passed by its Project Appraisal Committee and is awaiting approval at the next Ecnec meeting by the beginning of next month.

At the beginning of the project, security and traffic management were not included in the project. Now these issues have been incorporated and that's why the duration and cost of the project were revised, said the director of the project, Harunur Rashid Chowdhury.

"The road work of the project has also been completed for vehicle movement. Now the most important part of the tunnel, electro-mechanical work, is going on. It will take till January to complete this ongoing work."

He added, "The work related to the traffic system outside the tunnel will be completed by the end of December of 2023."

Md Khalilur Rahman, president of the Chattogram Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CMCCI), said after a few days, the Bay Terminal will be opened and it is located next to the tunnel road. Almost the same amount of goods as in Chittagong Port can be loaded and unloaded there.

"Millions of people will use this tunnel when the Mirsarai Economic Zone will be fully operational. Along with this, thousands of industrial factories in the north side of the tunnel will draw more investment."

The ongoing mega projects in Chattogram, including Korean EPZ at Anwara, Chinese industrial zone, Matarbari power plant and Matarbari deep-sea port, will enjoy the full benefit of this tunnel, he added.

At least 10 large industrial groups and 150 businesspeople have bought land in advance to establish factories in various sectors -- power, petroleum, apparel, shipbuilding, fish processing, steel, cement and oil refinery -- on the south bank of the Karnaphuli, according to official data.

Mahbubul Alam, president of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said, "The tunnel will contribute greatly to the economy, communication and tourism sector. Especially this will be the roadmap to an advanced Bangladesh in international trade."

He added, "Extensive commercial activities are going on in the area around the tunnel, including setting up new industrial factories and opening new branches of commercial banks."

According to the survey conducted in 2013 before the construction of the tunnel, 6.3 million vehicles will be able to move through the tunnel annually. According to that, about 17260 vehicles can run in a day.

By 2025, an average of 28,305 vehicles will travel through the tunnel every day. An average of 37,946 vehicles per day by 2030 and 162,000 vehicles have been estimated by 2067.