In
June 2015, the Bangladesh Government has signed a deal with the China
Communications Construction Company (CCCC) for construction of the four around Kilometers
long tunnel underneath the river Karnaphuli in Chittagong. The tunnel will connect the Chittagong city
with Anwara upazila to Cox's Bazar via the national Highway and with the
proposed Asian Highway.
In
November 2015, ECNEC approved the much-hyped BDT 8,446.64-crore for this project.
China and Bangladesh government together will finance this mega project. This
tunnel would create scopes for establish new industries on the eastern side of
the Karnafuli River, Anwara Upazila and it would open a new horizon in trade
and commerce in Chittagong region and play a vital role in overall economic
development of the country.
The
country's dream Karnaphuli tunnel project is now visible. Tunnel boring machine
(TBM) which is one of the modern machines to build tunnel, now is in the river
bed. The pre-production of setting machine for boring is almost done. This will
start with the main task of building tunnels. Already 30 percent of the overall
construction work progressed.
On
14 October 2016, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and China
President Xi-Jinping jointly inaugurated the foundation stone for the
construction of a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River. It is known that tunnel
boring machine has been built in mainland China. The TBM came to the country in
April-May 2018.
For
setting up the boring machine, jetty has been constructed on both end points of
the tunnel. The total land area for this project to be acquired is
approximately 383 acres. Already 232 acres land has been successfully acquired.
As per published news, Harunur Rashid Chowdhury, the project director of
Karnaphuli Tunnel said, "The country's first tunnel is a high-tech
technical work. As a result of this there are many warnings around, so it needs
taking very slow preparation.
Overall,
30 percent of the tunnels work is finished. Tunnel boring machine will be installed
in the river in February, the deputy project director (finance and
administration) said. He also said, 'There is a misunderstanding about the land
on the southern bank of the Karnaphuli. Later it has resolved. Land owners are
receiving compensation through the district administration. Currently 82% of
the acquisition work is done.
The
estimated time frame for the construction work to be completed is June 2022, if
the work is going on at the current pace. At present vast area of Patenga on
the north bank of the river is surrounded by walls. Saving access to security
interests, dredging works through four mining projects, finishing work in DAP
fertilizer factory and KAFKO mid-field char areas for project site offices,
habitats and equipment.
Arrangements
for construction equipment and accommodation in Patenga on the north bank of
the river are being set aside. Recently, materials on two ships came from China
to build the project's infrastructure. Karnaphuli tunnel project sources said
that the tunnels are being constructed at Tk 8,446 crore 63 lac with two
tube-bound 3-4 kilometers of four-lane.
On
the western and eastern sides of the tunnel, 535 kilometer approach road and
727 meter over bridge and the tunnel will connect Anwara upazila with
Chittagong city. The tunnel will be allotted to the Chittagong airport from the
river Karnaphuli two kilometer downstream. The tunnel entrance will be near the
Navy College in Patenga, the exit route will be near the CUFL fertilizer
factory adjacent to the south bank of Karnaphuli River.
The
length of the tunnel is 3,005 meters (excluding 477 meters open cuts on both
sides) within a total length of 9,265.97 meters. The tunnel will have two
flyovers at 920 meters. The country's first tunnel will be 'Dual Two Lane'
type. The tunnel will be built using the 'Shield Drive Method'.
If
the project is implemented then the picture of Chittagong will be changed. Uninterrupted
and simultaneous road communication inside the city will be modernized,
existing road communication system will be improved. Connection with the Asian
Highway will be near downtown with the Karnafuli River. It will develop the
east bank of the river which will be accelerated by various development works. Easy
and time consuming communication system will be established within
Dhaka-Comilla-Feni-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar route.
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