The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, South Asia's first underwater river-crossing, is nearly complete and expected to be inaugurated in the last week of November or the first week of December.
The progress of construction is at around 92%, according to sources at Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA).
Although the tunnel will be inaugurated by the end of the year, it is not expected to open for traffic until January next year at the earliest in order to test and ensure that it is safe.
On February 24, 2019, boring work for the first tube of the tunnel, which runs under the Karnaphuli River, was inaugurated. The first tube, with a length of 2,450 metres, was finished on August 2, 2020. Boring for the second 2450-metre-long tube began on December 12, 2020, and construction was completed on October 7, 2021.
The most critical task after the boring of the two main tubes was the installation of the three cross passages interconnecting the tunnel's two tubes. Approximately 99% of the three connecting roads have been constructed.
As of September of this year, the overall progress of the project was at 91.5%. In October and November, around 3-4% of the construction is expected to be completed. After the ancillary work is done, the tunnel should be accessible to traffic in early next year.
The BBA has already begun preparations for the tunnel's inauguration in the first week of December. It has formed 13 sub-committees to arrange the tunnel opening.
On October 11, Md Alamgir Hussain, senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, issued an order on the formation of the 13 sub-committees to plan the grand inauguration of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.
When contacted, Md Rupam Anwar, director (administration) of the BBA and convener of the first inauguration committee, said: ''The construction of the Bangabandhu Tunnel project is nearing completion. The tunnel's inauguration is significant as a megaproject. Several committees have been formed to ensure a smooth inauguration. The committees have already begun their task. However, a specific date or time for the tunnel's inauguration cannot be given yet. The Minister of Road Transport and Bridges is expected to visit the project site next week and then announce the tunnel's inauguration date.''
According to project information, the activities of the tunnel's foreign contractors have been completed on time, while the work of the domestic contractors has not yet been completed. Although the main tunnel has been completed, construction of the 5.3 km approach road at the tunnel's eastern end is still ongoing.
Besides, work on internal road improvements for service area bungalows and drainage systems for two bridges is currently ongoing. Around 14.165 acres of land is still being acquired out of the 379.4261 acres required for the tunnel.
Security scanners for the tunnel can be installed after the land complexity is resolved.
When asked about the matter, Bangabandhu Tunnel Project Director Harunur Rashid Chowdhury said: “We are trying to complete the project within the time frame specified. The government prefers to implement the project through high quality work rather than to complete it fast. As a result, the decision on the inauguration will be made by the higher authorities of the government.
“Furthermore, because the tunnel is a specialized and delicate construction, it is unlikely that the vehicles will become operational immediately following the inauguration. For the sake of public safety, the bridge authority will take time after the inauguration to closely monitor traffic through the tunnel,” he added.
According to the project authority, the tunnel has been constructed at a depth of 18 to 36 meters under the Karnaphuli River. Each tube or tunnel is 35 feet wide and 16 feet high. A total Tk10,374.42 crore is being spent on the construction of the tunnel.
However, the construction cost of the tunnel may increase by hundreds of crores due to the rise in dollar prices, the project authorities said.
The tunnel is being built by Chinese state-owned contractor China Communication and Construction Company (CCCC) Limited. The Chinese government is contributing Tk 5,913.19 crore towards the total cost of the project, while the rest of the money is coming from the Bangladesh government.
The length of the main tunnel will be 3.32 km. Each of these tunnels has a length of 2.45 km. The length of the first passage between the two tunnels is 12.14 m, the length of the second or intermediate passage is 12.34 m and the last is 10.74 m. Each passage has an average diameter of four and a half meters.