Shawdesh desk:

* 81.50pc work of Bangabandhu Tunnel has been completed

* High-quality Bashundhara bitumen is being used 

A ray of light has emerged in the depths of Karnaphuli River, ushering in new hopes for endless possibilities in connectivity and trade as the work to build the country’s first underwater expressway tunnel — Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel — under the Karnaphuli River is advancing fast.

According to the latest progress report of the project, 81.50 percent of the work has been completed till last February

Thanks to the mega project, massive development work took place in and around the project site. Bituminous coating roads have been built around the tunnel. Experts said that this tunnel will be one of the key channels of economic development of the country. GDP growth rate will increase. New doors of tourism will be opened.

During a visit to the project area, it was seen that iron gates have been constructed on both sides of the tunnel to prevent any tidal water from entering the project area. Lights have been installed inside. A pitch coated road is being constructed for the movement of vehicles inside the tube. The cement coating is under construction. Four layers have already been laid on the connecting road. The lower two layers use 60-70 grade and the upper two layers use modified bitumen. Bashundhara bitumen is being used in this mega project. A bituminous mixing plant has been set up on the road next to the tunnel.

According to the people involved in the project, the construction of special economic zone, deep seaport and power plant from the south bank from Karnaphuli river to Cox’s Bazar is also advancing at a fast pace. The tunnel will also be used to make connectivity with Cox’s Bazar easier. The tunnel can be accessed directly through the city outer ring road of Chattogram along the Bay of Bengal. This will also help reduce traffic congestion in Chattogram city.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, the length of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel is 9.39 km. However, each tube has a length of 2.45 km and a diameter of 10.40 meters. This dream tunnel is being constructed at a cost of Tk 10,374 crore. Once the tunnel is built, Anwara will be connected with Chattogram like Shanghai city of China.

Regarding the progress of the work, the officials involved in the project said that despite the stagnation of everything during the corona period, the work here has not stopped for a day. Boring work has already been completed including the replacement of two tube rings. Currently, the necessary internal construction work of the tube is underway. Lane slab casting work is almost finished. The two tubes of the tunnel have been replaced by 19,616 segment castings, which were made in Zhejiang City of Jiangsu Province in China.

Deck slab and pavement construction work of 726-meter viaduct on the edge of Anwara has been completed. The construction work of the tug boat has also been completed. A total of 5.35 km connecting road is under construction at the western and eastern ends of the tunnel. At present bitumen coating is being applied on this road.

Project Director Harunur Rashid Chowdhury said the road construction work has been going on for about a year. It will be possible to open the tunnel to traffic even before the scheduled time. Manpower and necessary equipment have been increased to speed up the work.

Since the start of the work, due to the outbreak of the global pandemic, we have had to work in compliance with the health rules for almost two years. Due to this, it has taken much more time than required. After that, the project work is progressing as expected and he expects the project to be completed by December this year.

About a decade and a half ago, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised to build a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River at a public meeting in Chattogram. Following this, an agreement was signed on November 6, 2017 to implement this project. Work on the project began on December 5 of that year.