United News of Bangladesh

The operational and maintenance costs of the Karnaphuli Tunnel in Chattogram are more than double its monthly toll earnings, with the government spending nearly Tk 6.95 crore a month against an average monthly income of Tk 3.37 crore from toll collection, Parliament was told on Monday. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam disclosed the information while responding to a starred question from NCP MP Md Abul Hasnat of Cumilla-4 in the tabled question. He attributed the higher expenditure to the need for uninterrupted power supply inside the tunnel, lighting, ventilation, fire safety systems, CCTV surveillance and traffic management. Rabiul Alam said immediately after the tunnel was opened, its daily operation and maintenance cost was around Tk 37 lakh. However, through the government's austerity measures and efforts by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority to reduce less essential expenditures, the daily cost has now been brought down to around Tk 22-23 lakh. He also informed Parliament that the government has taken several initiatives to make the tunnel financially viable. Responding to another question from reserved seat MP Mosammat Nazmun Nahar, the minister said the government plans to launch the country's first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service along the 20.5-kilometre corridor from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Shibbari in Gazipur to ease traffic congestion. He said the government is considering ways to improve the project further to ensure maximum public benefit. On measures against unfit vehicles, the minister, replying to a question from Narayanganj-4 MP Abdullah Al Amin, said vehicles whose fitness certificates expired more than 10 years ago and have not been renewed are being removed from roads and their registrations cancelled. Vehicles whose fitness certificates expired five years ago are being targeted for renewal, while lists of both categories have been sent to police and notices issued to owners, he added. Replying to Bhola-4 MP Mohammad Nurul Islam, Rabiul Alam said the government has undertaken an initiative to install GPS devices in all public transport vehicles to improve highway discipline, ensure passenger safety and monitor vehicle movements. The system will enable authorities to take legal action against drivers and owners of vehicles exceeding the prescribed speed limits, he said. On the proposed second Jamuna Bridge, the minister told Parliament, in reply to Jamalpur-3 MP Md Mostafizur Rahman Babul, that the process of appointing a consultant to conduct a feasibility study is underway. Negotiations with the selected consulting firm have already been completed and the agreement is expected to be signed soon, he said. The minister said three possible alignments are under consideration: from Sariakandi in Bogura to Madarganj in Jamalpur, from Balashi in Gaibandha to Dewanganj in Jamalpur, or another suitable corridor. Responding to reserved seat MP Selina Sultana on battery-powered rickshaws, Rabiul Alam said the government is preparing regulations requiring the vehicles to operate on local feeder roads instead of highways, making registration compulsory, requiring drivers to hold licences and introducing strict route control for three-wheelers and similar vehicles. Meanwhile, replying to reserved seat MP Nipun Roy Chowdhury, the minister said Bangladesh Railway, with technical support from BUET, has launched a pilot project to install automatic barriers at three separate level crossings in Dhaka. Based on the results, similar systems will be introduced at all important authorised level crossings. The government also plans to install cameras and smart gate systems at major level crossings in the future, he added.

The government has renamed the Bangabandhu Bridge as Jamuna Bridge and the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel as Karnaphuli Tunnel. The Bridges Division of Bangladesh Road Transport and Bridges Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday. The Jamuna Multi-Purpose Bridge over the Jamuna River is a road and rail bridge which was inaugurated in June, 1998. Energy key to economic efficiency, says CA’s Press Secretary It serves as a crucial link connecting the eastern and western parts of Bangladesh. On the other hand, the Karnaphuli Tunnel, the first of its kind constructed under the Karnaphuli River was inaugurated in Chattogram on October 28, 2023.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (November 26, 2022) said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under Karnaphuli river is the first such project in South Asia and is an astonishing infrastructure. “Bangladesh is now a changed country and none would be able to stop the ongoing progress and advancement of Bangladesh,” she said. The prime minister said this while joining an event marking the end to general work of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel’s south tube which goes beneath the river Karnaphuli. She officially announced completion of the tunnel’s south side. Read more: ‘Some in opposition parties don’t see development by AL govt, they should have their eyes checked’ The PM joined the event, organised by the Bridges Division in Chattogram, virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. The prime minister said that after inauguration of the Karnaphuli Tunnel next month, road communication between Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram, Dhaka would be much easier and faster. Besides, country’s economy will get momentum and tourism, economic activities, trade and commerce in the entire Chattogram region will be further expanded and strengthened, she added. Read more: PM officially announces completion of Karnaphuli Tunnel’s south side Karnaphuli Tunnel has been constructed to develop Chattogram city like Shanghai of China following the “One City, Two Towns” model, she said. The PM said that the new town at Anwara Upazila, end of Karnaphuli Tunnel will be developed in a planned manner to this end, while steps have been taken to connect Cox’s Bazar with Dhaka and Chattogram through rail link. Referring to development of the region, Sheikh Hasina said, Chattogram is a crucial commercial city of Bangladesh and her government has been implementing major programmes for its development. Read More: PM to join Karnaphuli Tunnel event Saturday In this regard, PM Hasina mentioned that steps were taken to develop the port city Chattogram with new structures and it will help strengthen the economy of Bangladesh significantly.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (November 26, 2022) joined an event marking an end to the general work of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel’s south tube, which goes beneath the river Karnaphuli in Chattogram. She also officially announced completion of the tunnel’s south side. The PM joined the event, organised by the Bridges Division, virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. Construction work of the Karnaphuli Tunnel’s southern end has been completed entirely, while 99 percent work of the tunnel’s northern end has been finished. This is the first under-river tunnel in South Asia, which is expected to contribute 0.166 percent in the national economy growth with boosting employment, tourism, and industrialisation. Karnaphuli Tunnel is expected to greatly improve the traffic situation in Chattogram. Read more: 2 tubes of Bangabandhu Tunnel likely to open this Oct, Nov: Quader According to project sources, two 5.35km approach roads are being constructed on the eastern and western sides of the tunnel. The length of the tunnel is 3.32km, and it is being constructed at a depth of 18 to 31 metres under the Karnaphuli river. According to officials, as of now, the overall progress of the project is 94 percent. It’ll take two more months to complete the rest of the work. Karnaphuli Tunnel is being built at a cost of Tk 10,374 crore. The tunnel project is being implemented with joint funding of the governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G). The Exim Bank of China is giving a loan of Tk 5,913 crore while the Bangladesh government is funding the rest. The Karnaphuli river divides Chattogram into two parts. The tunnel being built – following the “One City, Two Towns” model like Shanghai in China – will connect the port city on the north with Anwara upazila on the south. Read More: PM Hasina foresees no crisis in consumer goods China is providing technical and financial assistance to the project. Currently, firefighting, lighting and control management systems are being installed inside the tunnel. Besides, 52 irrigation pumps are also being installed so that rising water level during monsoon and natural disasters do not block the tunnel, said project officials. The project is being implemented by Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA). Two tubes adjoining the tunnel have been built under the Karnaphuli river. Lights, pumps and drainage systems are being installed in the tunnel simultaneously while A 772m flyover has also been built. At present, the construction of a toll plaza at the tunnel’s Anwara end is going on in full swing. Read More: PM reaches Jashore, speaks at President Parade in BAF Academy

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to join an event marking partial end to the construction works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel or Karnaphuli Tunnel and announce the completion of the tunnel’s south side on Saturday. The construction work of the southern end of the tunnel has been completed entirely, while 99 percent work of the tunnel’s northern end has been finished. The PM is expected to join the event organized by the Bridges Division virtually at about 10:00am. Ahmad Kaykaus, Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), made the announcement while talking to journalists at the Patenga End of the tunnel on Friday. Read: PM Hasina foresees no crisis in consumer goods “The Bridges Division is going to arrange a program marking the completion of the tunnel’s southern part. The PM will attend this program virtually. We hope that the entire tunnel will be opened for vehicular movement by the end of next January,” said Kaykaus. According to project sources, two 5.35km approach roads are being constructed on the eastern and western sides of the tunnel. The length of the tunnel is 3.32km. “As of yet, the overall progress of the project is 94 percent. It’ll take two more months to complete the rest of the works,” said Mohammad Harunur Rashid, Project Director of the Karnaphuli Tunnel Project.  

The  Bangabandhu Tunnel under the river Karnaphuli , first of a kind in Bangladesh is expected to be open for vehicular movements next year, and it could even be well ahead of the scheduled time of December 2022. Confirming the information, Harunur Rashid Chowdhury, project director of Karnaphuli Tunnel said,”‘One of the positive aspects of this project is that its duration and cost have not been increased. The work is being completed within the stipulated time.”  “There is a possibility that the construction works might even end earlier than scheduled,” he added. The project director further said that manpower and equipment have been increased to speed up the work. “Work is going on in full swing. We are working towards the goal of opening for moving vehicles through the tunnel before the end of next year.” The construction work of the dream project reached a major milestone with completion of all boring-related work last Thursday, that arrived with the excavation of the second tube ( from Anwara end of Chittagong to Patenga end) of the 3.315-km tunnel. The boring work of the first tube was completed in the first week of August last year. Project sources told UNB that 73 % construction work of Karnaphuli tunnel has been done and dusted. In the first year after it opens to vehicular movement,  some 6.3 milli0n (63 lakh) vehicles will pass through this tunnel. In a few years, the amount of traffic will reach 14 million per year, the peo  Most of these vehicles will be container trailers, various types of good laden trucks and covered vans. Besides, tourist buses, cars and other vehicles can also move through the tunnel, making lives much easier for the national and international tourists. Also read: Karnaphuli Tunnel Project makes "breakthrough" amid Covid-19

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Metro Rail and Karnaphuli Tunnel will be opened for all within June next year, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said Sunday.

Karnaphuli Tunnel Project has achieved a "breakthrough" with the completion of the left line despite the coronavirus outbreak in the country.