Prof Md Shamsul Hoque talks about the practicality of undertaking megaprojects like the Karnaphuli tunnel with The Daily Star.

A year on, Karnaphuli tunnel losing over Tk 27 lakh a day

The Karnaphuli Tunnel, an ambitious project, seeks to enhance connectivity in the southeastern part of Bangladesh, bridging the gap between Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar. Approved in 2016, this underwater tunnel is designed to span the Karnaphuli River, aiming to reduce travel time and traffic congestion.

A total of 309 vehicles used the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in the first five hours after the long-cherished tunnel opened to traffic at 6:00am today

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Bangabandhu Tunnel at Patenga in Chattogram at 11:42 am today

After the inauguration at the Patenga end of the tunnel, her motorcade entered the 3.32km tunnel to travel towards the Anwara end.

The country’s first tunnel, named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, built under the Karnaphuli river opens today, ushering in a new era in road communication.

Businesspeople yesterday urged for improving connectivity between Dhaka and Chattogram on a priority basis in order to get the expected benefits of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.

The narrow Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway may pose an obstacle to reaping the benefits of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli, which will be opened on October 28 this year.

According to the project, two tubes having 35 feet wide, and 16 feet high have been constructed within an 11-metre gap so that heavy vehicles can pass through the tunnel easily.

Constructing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram is set to turn costlier apparently for poor feasibility studies as the need for new components have arisen alongside adjustments to the rise in the price of the US dollar. 

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Mahbubul Alam said the country’s first underwater tunnel below the Karnaphuli river will bring a new dimension to connectivity between the southeastern region and the rest of the country.

The construction of the country’s first under-river tunnel has reached a major milestone after the completion of a tube, a success Bangladesh Bridge Authority will celebrate today with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joining the programme virtually.

Scanners will be installed at both ends of the Karnaphuli tunnel in Chattogram to make sure that vehicles carrying flammable goods cannot use the underwater structure.

A Chinese company has been given the charge of collecting tolls of the "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel" built under the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram.

In dispelling the confusion being spread about the mega projects being implemented in the country Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reaffirmed that her government remains cautious so the loans don’t become a burden.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will launch the boring for Karnaphuli tunnel and construction of the country's longest elevated expressway in the port city's Potenga today.

Road Transport and Bridges Ministry inks a deal with a Chinese firm for the construction of a two-lane tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong.

The road transport and bridges ministry will sign a deal with a Chinese state-owned company on June 30 for the construction of a two-lane tunnel underneath the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong.