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AL always thinks in line with modern era: PM

Inaugurates Karnaphuli Tunnel's South tube    
UNB . Dhaka
26 Nov 2022 12:42:53 | Update: 26 Nov 2022 18:39:13
AL always thinks in line with modern era: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurates the South tube of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in Karnaphuli, Chottogram, from Ganabhaban in Dhaka on November 26, 2022 — PID Photo

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the Awami League always keeps pace with the modern era to keep the nation moving forward.

“Awami League always thinks in line with the modern era to develop the country with an unbeatable pace,” she said while inaugurating the South tube of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.

The Prime Minister virtually joined the event, organised by the Bridges Division in Chattogram, from her official residence Ganabhaban.

She said that Awami League only has a modern kind of thinking that led the country to have a tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli.

She said that Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia never thought about the construction of a tunnel beneath a river. 

“Actually they have a shortage of thinking,” said the PM.

The premier said that construction of the tunnel will brighten the image of the country as well as bring pace in economic activities of the country.

“This will contribute a lot to the country’s economy,” she said.

She advised a section of people who do not see any development by the Awami League government to go to ophthalmologists to check their eyes.

“Many people do not see our development. If their eyes are defective, they can go to the doctor. We have established a very good ophthalmological institute. I think they can go there for treatment, then, they might see everything,” she said.

She also said that if anyone wants to remain blind despite having their eyes well, then she has nothing to do with that.

“I think there are some people in our opposition parties who are blind despite having eyes, they pretend not to see anything. They do not have the ability to do anything, in future, they will not be able to do anything, they will not be capable to give anything to the country,” she said.

“They fill their pockets when are in power, smuggle ten trucks of arms, smuggle money and grab money.”

“They never work for the welfare of the people, in future, they will not do anything also, this is the reality,” the PM pointed out.

Bridges Division Minister Obaidul Quader, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming, Cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam and Bridges Division secretary Md Monjur Hossain also spoke at the programme.

A documentary on the Tunnel was screened at the programme.

The prime minister also witnessed a colourful cultural function at the programme venue in Chattogram.

Construction work of Karnaphuli Tunnel    

The construction work of Karnaphuli Tunnel’s southern end has been completed entirely, while 99 per cent work of the tunnel’s northern end has been finished.

This is the first under-river tunnel in South Asia, which is expected to contribute 0.166 per cent to the national economic growth by boosting employment, tourism, and industrialisation. Karnaphuli Tunnel is expected to greatly improve the traffic situation in Chattogram.

According to project sources, two 5.35km approach roads are being constructed on the eastern and western sides of the tunnel. The length of the tunnel is 3.32km, and it is being constructed at a depth of 18 to 31 metres under the Karnaphuli river.

“As of now, the overall progress of the project is 94 per cent. It will take two more months to complete the rest of the work,” officials said.

Karnaphuli Tunnel is being built at a cost of Tk 10,374 crore. The tunnel project is being implemented with joint funding from the governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G). The Exim Bank of China is giving a loan of Tk 5,913 crore while the Bangladesh government is funding the rest.

The tunnel being built – following the “One City, Two Towns” model like Shanghai in China – will connect the port city on the north with Anwara upazila on the south.

China is providing technical and financial assistance to the project. Currently, firefighting, lighting and control management systems are being installed inside the tunnel. Besides, 52 irrigation pumps are also being installed so that rising water levels during monsoons and natural disasters do not block the tunnel, said project officials.

The project is being implemented by Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA).

Two tubes adjoining the tunnel have been built under the Karnaphuli river. Lights, pumps and drainage systems are being installed in the tunnel simultaneously while a 772m flyover has also been built.

At present, the construction of a toll plaza at the tunnel’s Anwara end is going on in full swing.

Project officials are hoping that the Karnaphuli Tunnel will bring about revolutionary changes to the road communication landscape between Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar. Chattogram’s Anwara has already started to witness a change in its fortune through the setting up of new industries on both sides of the tunnel’s approach road in the upazila.

At least 10 large industrial groups and 150 businesspeople have bought land in advance to establish factories in various sectors – power, petroleum, apparel, shipbuilding, fish processing, steel, cement and oil refinery – on the south bank of the Karnaphuli, according to official data.

The tunnel will reduce the distance between Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram by 40km.

The construction work of the tunnel was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on February 24, 2019.

On October 14, 2016, PM Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly laid the foundation stone of the Karnaphuli Tunnel.

In November 2015, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the multi-lane road tunnel project at a cost of Tk 8,446.64 crore and the project duration was set for December 2021.

The cost was later increased to Tk 10,374.42 crore and the project period was extended to December 2022.

In the latest revision, the project duration has been extended till December 30, 2023, and the cost was increased by Tk 164 crore.

According to the survey conducted in 2013, before the construction of the tunnel, 6.3 million vehicles will be able to move through the tunnel annually. According to that, about 17260 vehicles can run in a day. By 2025, an average of 28,305 vehicles will travel through Karnaphuli Tunnel every day.

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