CHATTOGRAM, Oct 11: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel which was built under the Karnaphuli river in the district has now become a white elephant due to a huge loss every day.
Sources said the country's first-ever tunnel which was inaugurated last year is not getting vehicles expected earlier to make profit. So, it is now incurring a loss of Tk 2.6 million every day.
They said Tk 23.9 million was collected as toll last September. A total of 91,662 vehicles ran through the underwater tunnel in the month.
The number of vehicles plying every day is only 18 per cent of the initial survey.
For keeping the tunnel open for a day, its maintenance costs amounts to Tk 3.75 million while the toll collection is only Tk 0.79 million per day.
According to the sources, an average of Tk 37.5 million per day for the provision of artificial light and lighting in the tunnel, overall security and emergency security measures; which three times more than the income.
At present, there is no opportunity for bicycles, CNG Baby Taxies and motorcycles to pass through the tunnel.
Besides, no industries yet to be built in the Anwara part of the tunnel. As a result traffic is not increasing.
The sources said of the overall cost of the tunnel, a Chinese loan of taka 6,700 crore will be repaid over the next 20 years with 2 percent interest. The government will start repaying that debt from 2025 with the income of the tunnel.
Kamrul Islam, a businessman of Anwara said, "It was said then that the port will be expanded, business will increase. In reality there were nothing more than a handful of restaurant. All are shops and other establishments including banks counting losses now."
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