The under-construction Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River is set to be opened to traffic next December, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam has said.
One tube of the tunnel will be opened by the end of October or the first week of November and the second tube would be opened in December, he said after a program organized at Chittagong Circuit House on Friday.
The cabinet secretary mentioned that the tunnel’s construction work went smoothly so far, reports Bangla Tribune.
“It is a great achievement for Bangladesh to be able to complete a project of this size on time,” he added.
Chittagong deputy commissioner, superintendents of police, and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman ABM Azad were also present in the meeting.
On February 24, 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the tunnel boring work. On August 2, 2020, the boring work was completed, including the replacement of the first 2,450m-long tunnel tube ring.
In December 2020, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader inaugurated the boring work for the second tunnel tube, which is 2,459m-long. The work was completed on October 7, 2021.