Underwater tunnel to be built across River Karnaphuli

Chittagong: An underwater tunnel stretching one kilometre across the River Karnaphuli would be built at an estimated cost of Tk 2,000 crore. The proposed 100-metre width tunnel, the first of its kind in the country, would have six lanes said the communication minister, Syed Abul Hossain.

He said the third Karnaphuli Bridge would be open for traffic by September 15 as over 66 per cent work of the project has already been completed.

Senior officials of the communication ministry said Bangladesh had requested China to provide necessary funds for construction of the tunnel.

They said a feasibility study would be carried out soon to determine the most suitable site for the tunnel.

Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Zieng Quing Dian, director general of Bangladesh Railway Mohammad Belayet Hossain and chief engineer of Roads and Highways Department Nehar Meah, project director of third Karnaphuli Bridge Mohammad Mohiuddin and deputy commissioner of Chittagong Ashraf Shamim accompanied the minister.

Mohammad Mohiuddin told the meeting that over 66 per cent work of the Tk 590 crore Karnaphuli Bridge had been done and they were confident of accomplishing the rest tasks by September 15, around two months ahead of the schedule.

The work on the third bridge with 950 metres length and 24.40 metres width along with 2 kilometres approach road on both sides began on July 19, 2006 and is supposed to be completed by mid-December 2009.
He said the work related to principal structures of the bridge and two approach roads on both the sides was also done.

He said the construction work had been going on smoothly as the government had allocated sufficient fund.