C T Online Desk: The construction of the first Bangabandhu Tunnel under construction on the bottom of the Karnaphuli river at a cost of Tk.10,375 crores Now the work of mechanical deployment is underway. If the tunnel is opened for vehicles, the car will be able to move at 50 km per hour with 4 lanes. The tunnel project is being implemented with joint financing of the Bangladesh and China government. For this reason, the Exim Bank of China has given a loan of Tk 500.8 crore at the rate of 2 percent. The Bangladesh government has given the rest of the money. China Communications Construction Company Limited is working as a contractor for the construction of the 3.5 km length tunnel. The duration of the project is till December 7, 2023. Project Director. Harunur Rashid said the construction of the tunnel would be completed within the stipulated time. In the meantime, construction work has been completed by 9 5 percent. Construction of an overbridge on the Patenga and Anwara edges was completed at 9.5 km connecting roads . Toll plaza related to cross passage and tunnel is also almost at the end. Mechanical, electrical and civil work is underway. The government has taken initiative to construct a tunnel on the bottom of the Karnaphuli river to connect the city of Patenga and Anwara in South Chittagong to build the Chittagong city in the ‘One City, Two Town’ model in the city of Shanghai, China. On February 27, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction of the Bangabandhu Tunnel. The tunnel will connect the proposed Asian highway to the Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway and will reduce the distance from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar by 5 kms. From the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, the City Outer Ring Road can enter the tunnel on the Patenga edge at the Chaturi Chaumuhani Point on the Patiya-Anwara-Banskhali road on the Anwara edge. As a result, modern communication between Dhaka-Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar will be developed and the connection with the Asian highway will be established. The communication system will be widely developed. Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader said, “Bangabandhu tunnel may be opened for traffic in September this year. At that time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina can inaugurate the Bangabandhu tunnel.
