Bangladesh is becoming the first country in the Indian subcontinent to construct underwater tunnels that will connect the two parts of Chattogram with the help of China.
Bangladeshi authorities awarded the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel project to the China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) at a cost of $1.2 billion.
The dual lane twin tunnel project will contribute towards the improvement of the Asian Highway Network and serve to connect Bangladesh with its neigbouring countries.
The total length of the tunnel will be around 9.092km, including 3.50km of tunnel under the Karnaphuli River with an approach road of 4.89km alongside 740m of bridges linking the main port city and western side of the Karnaphuli along with the heavy industry-prone eastern side of the river.
Unlike some other mega projects which slowed down since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Bangladesh, the Karnaphuly tunnel project is rapidly progressing with the left line already completed. The project team stipulated completion of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel BY 2022.
Over 250 Chinese engineers are working alongside Bangladeshi engineers and construction crews to realise the project.
This landmark project is the first time China won a contract to build a large underwater tunnel abroad using TBM technology. It challenges the domination of European engineers on the international arena. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly laid its foundation stone on October 14 in 2017.
