Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel has witnessed a significant progress as the construction companies termed it a "breakthrough".

“With the cutter of the tunnel boring machine cutting through the wall, China Communications Construction Company Limited, the EPC Contractor, and China Road and Bridge Corporation, the Constructor, "successfully achieved breakthrough" of both tubes of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, making the remarkable progress of the first overseas large-diameter underwater TBM tunnel undertaken by Chinese company,” said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday.

Located at the river mouth in Chattogram, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel project is 9.3km long, in which the length of the tunnel shield section is 2450m while the tunnel outer diameter is 11.8m.

With a diameter of 12.12 meters and a weight of 2200 tons, the CCCC self-developed and manufactured large-diameter slurry pressure balanced tunnel boring machine is used for construction of the project.

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Facing various difficulties caused by the Covid-19, the Project Department made scientific arrangements and organized in advance to ensure progress per schedule.

The construction progress and excellent quality of the Project have been highly recognized and praised by the Bangladeshi employer and international consultants.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel Project is the first underwater Tunnel in South Asia, and also the first overseas large-diameter underwater TBM tunnel undertaken by Chinese Company and an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

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The project is funded by Export-Import Bank of China, designed and built with Chinese Standard and Chinese machines, implemented and managed by Chinese companies, and will become a shining business card of the overseas Chinese Tunnel after completion.

The completion of the tunnel project will greatly improve the traffic conditions in Chattogram, and promote economic development of Bangladesh.

It also plays an important role in improving the Asian Highway Network, strengthening the connectivity between Bangladesh and neighboring countries, and boosting the international development of Bangladesh, said the Embassy.