Bangladesh has signed an agreement with China to build a dual two-lane tunnel underneath the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong using the shield-driven tunnelling method.
Bridges Division Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam signed the deal on behalf of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry while Liu Qitao, chairman of Chinese state-owned company China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Ltd, signed on behalf of China.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Chinese Transport Minister Yang Chuantag, Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Dipu Moni, and Bridge Authority Chief Engineer Kabir Ahmed were present at the signing ceremony in Beijing.
During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Beijing visit in June last year, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh and China for the Karnaphuli tunnel.
In his speech at the signing ceremony, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader said: “Today’s agreement is a continuation of that process [MoU].
“The 3.5km tunnel will cost $705 million, which would be connected to the proposed Asian Highway and to the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Highway,” the minister added.
According to the agreement, the tunnel will be built on a government-to-government basis; work is expected to start by the end of this year and conclude within 2019.
The CCCC will quickly submit the detailed design of the project, while the Bridges Division will complete reviewing the design within November, the agreement reads.
Two years ago, the CCCC Ltd-Ove Arup and partners Hong-Kong Ltd (JV) completed the feasibility study of the project.
Karnaphuli tunnel, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, will connect to the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway as well as easing communication with India and Myanmar once the Asian Highway is completed.
The Karnaphuli tunnel will attract downtown population in the east side and promote “One City and Two Towns” improvement model adopted by China’s largest city Shanghai.
The tunnel is also essential because heavy siltation on the Karnaphuli riverbed is a major problem for proper functioning of Chittagong Port and an obstruction for building new bridges.
