PM to virtually join celebration on November 26

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually join the celebration of the completion of South Tube of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel on November 26.

“She will join the programme virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital. Project officials and government high-ups will join the event in person at the tunnel end,” said Md Harunur Rashid Chowdhury, Project Director of Multilane Road Tunnel Under River Karnaphuli.

He said that the work progress of the project now stands at 94 per cent. The remaining electrical and mechanical works will be completed by January.

The deadline for completion was December this year and the government wanted to open the tunnel for traffic by that time. However, the deadline was extended for one more year recently as work could not be completed for various reasons including Covid-19 restrictions.

The total length of the two-tube tunnel will be around 9.39 kilometres, including 3.32 kilometres long main tunnel under the Karnaphuli River. It also includes an approach road of 4.89 kilometres alongside 740 metres of bridges.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President of China Xi Jinping laid the foundation stone of the tunnel on October 14, 2017.

The four-lane tunnel extends from near Bangladesh Naval Academy in Patenga to near Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company in Anwara.