The port city on Saturday witnessed country's historic entry into a new era of connectivity as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the much-anticipated nearly 3.315km underwater expressway tunnel, first of its kind in South Asia, beneath the River Karnaphuli here.
The premier unveiled the plaque of the tunnel connecting city's Patenga with Anwara upazila named "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel" at Patenga on the north bank of Karnaphuli at 11.40am.
Later, she took first ride through the tunnel.
PM Hasina crossed the tunnel and paid toll for her motorcade at Anwara on the South Bank of the River.
The 9.39 km-long tunnel including approach road, built at a cost of Tk10,689 crore, will be opened to vehicles from 6am on Monday.
In terms of connecting two regions of the country, the tunnel is the second "dream scheme" in road transport sector after the Padma Bridge.
The tunnel has been built following the "one city two towns" model like Shanghai in China.
It would connect the proposed Asian Highway with Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Highway by reducing distance by 40km.
The premier also released a special commemorative postage stamp and first day cover along with special canceller, marking the inauguration of the underwater road tunnel.
According to the officials, over 1,700 vehicles would be able to use the tunnel on a daily basis equating to some 7.6 million vehicles a year.
The tunnel would help increase the country's annual GDP growth by 0.166%.
