Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced the completion of the south tube of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel – an expressway tunnel being built under the Karnaphuli River, in the port city of Chittagong.
The prime minister made the announcement on Saturday morning, joining the celebration event virtually from her official residence, Ganabhaban.
The overall progress of the tunnel was at 94%, Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus told reporters while visiting the event venue on Friday, adding that it would be opened to the public in January.
"The tunnel will greatly improve the traffic situation in Chittagong and promote economic development of the country.”
The tunnel is expected to cut down the time it takes to travel from Anwara to Patenga to just two and a half minutes. It currently takes over an hour – and sometimes two – to cross the Karnaphuli River using the Shah Amanat Bridge.
Bridges Division Secretary Md Monjur Hossain said the first under-river tunnel in South Asia would be a source of pride and dignity for Bangladesh as it would once again demonstrate the country's ability to build a mega structure.
