Construction depends on Chinese financing

The fate of a multilane road tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli river will largely depend on the government's negotiation with China regarding funding.
“The construction work will not begin within the tenure of the present government as its financing has not been finalised yet,” Communications Minister Obaidul Quader told reporters at the capital's Setu Bhaban yesterday.
He said the construction work might start next year once the financing was finalised.
China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), which conducted the feasibility study on the tunnel with Tk 12 crore, has already proposed to finance the 3.4-kilometre tunnel, which would cost an estimated Tk 5,534 crore.
Bridges Division officials said the government was ready to accept the Chinese proposal, but China recently made a fresh proposal expressing interests to invest also in an economic zone on the eastern end of the Karnaphuli.
“CCCC has been asked to carry out another study on the economic zone. Decision regarding both the issues will be taken once we receive that study report,” said a senior Bridges Division official.