PM inaugurates Bangabandhu Tunnel, ushers in new era in road communication

UNB :
Bangladesh opened a new horizon in hassle-free road communication on Saturday when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first-ever underwater tunnel amid festivities.

The 3.32km tunnel named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman runs under the Karnaphuli River making another dream project into a reality.

The tunnel, also the first of its kind in South Asia, promises to fast-track the country’s road connectivity, spur the economy and promote tourism.

It has two tubes and four lanes.

The people of the port city and the southern region greeted the opening of the tunnel with
cheers and hope it will add a new dimension in the economy like China’s Shanghai.

PM Hasina drove through the tunnel in a motorcade to join a public rally at Anwara upazila after inaugurating it at Patenga point.

The premier unveiled the plaque of the tunnel on the north bank of the Karnaphuli at Patenga at 11.40am. She paid toll for her motorcade at the south bank of the river at Anwara.

A mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was set up in front of the Shah Amanat International Airport and a shampan (boat) was placed there to mark the occasion.

The two ends of the tunnel have been decorated with multi-coloured banners and flags.

Once the tunnel, built at a cost Tk 10.374crore, opens to traffic travellers will be able to cross the tunnel in five minutes.

The tunnel is fully prepared for vehicle movement.

The construction work of fire service and police camp building on the two ends of the tunnel is going on.

Almost 99 percent work of the project has been completed and the rest will be done in December while over 100 CCTVs have been installed inside the tunnel.

The speed of the vehicle was fixed at 60 kilometres per hour and no motorbike and three-wheelers will be allowed on the tunnel.