Bangabandhu Tunnel likely to open in September: Quader
The cost of the project has increased by 26.56% to Tk10,690 crore
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram is likely to be opened for traffic in September this year, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate the tunnel, the minister said after a views-exchange meeting at Setu Bhabhan in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The project was taken up in 2015 at a cost of Tk8,447 crore and targeted to be completed by 2020.
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However, the completion of the project was extended to December this year after two phases of extension.
The cost of the project was increased by 26.56% to Tk10,690 crore.
Exim Bank of China is lending Tk6,070 crore for the tunnel. The rest of the financing is coming from the government's own funds.
The length of the main tunnel with two tubes is 3.32km. A 5.35km link road has been constructed at the western and eastern ends of the main tunnel and a flyover of 727 metres at the Anwara end.
In 2021, different dates for the opening of the tunnel were announced by authorities.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated a tube of the tunnel in November last year.
