CHATTOGRAM, Oct 11: The construction work on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel will end in December next and the multilane tunnel will be opened to public traffic by the end of this year, officials said.
Once inaugurated, the 9.092-kilometre long tunnel under the river Karnaphuli will open a new era of economic development in Chattogram division as well as whole of Bangladesh as the port city is the main business hub of the country, leaders of trade bodies said.
Started over five years ago, the cost of the project was then estimated to be more than US$ 1.05 billion or Tk 8,446.64 crore, an official having full knowledge of the project said.
After opening, the tunnel will substantially ease traffic jam on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway besides reducing the port city's road communication distance with tourism town Cox's Bazar and two districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), he said.
President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mahbubul Alam said, "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel is a dream project of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After its inauguration, the picture of the Chattogram will be changed.
He said the tunnel will directly link the port city's western portion with east besides linking Chattogram district's northern part with south, including fast industrialising Anwara and adjoining upazilas.
The tunnel will not only open up huge opportunities for increasing trade and investment in Chattogram but also speed up economic activities in entire Bangladesh, he said, adding a new city will be developed in southern part of Chattogram besides more industries will be set up in the KEPZ and the exclusive Chinese economic zone which will generate huge employments.
Sources said, the tunnel will herald starting of a wide range of new economic and social developments and people of the country will be considerably benefitted from the upliftment.
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