Anwara representative: Six months have passed today since the inauguration of the largest Padma bridge in the country. Meanwhile, Metrorail has been launched for the first time in the country. Now the waiting period is coming to an end for the inauguration of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel. The ongoing mega project of the country will be completed in February after completing the civil works, making the security zone, electrical connection and other details. At the same time, night and day busyness is going on to open the four-lane road of the six-lane connecting road at the Anwara end of the tunnel. However, although the entire work of the tunnel was completed in February, when it will be opened for traffic, the final date has not been announced yet, said the project stakeholders. They said that the ministry will finalize the inauguration date. However, preparations are underway to open the tunnel to traffic in February.
It is known that Bangabandhu Tunnel toll has been proposed in line with various bridges and Shah Amanat Bridge in the country. Three-wheelers and motorcycles were not considered in the initial proposal. The proposal includes Tk 200 for private cars, jeeps and pickups, Tk 250 for microbuses, Tk 300 for buses with 31 or less seats and Tk 400 for buses with 32 or more seats, Tk 400 for five tonne trucks, five to eight tonne trucks. 500 for trucks, 8 to 11 tonnes for trucks, 600 for trucks, 800 for trucks (three axles), 1,000 for trailers (four axles) and 1,000 for trailers with more than four axles, with an additional toll of 200 for each axle. . The Law Ministry will vet the proposal sent by the Bridge Department after the Finance Ministry approves it. The toll rate will be finalized after the Prime Minister’s Office gives final approval.
Director of Bangabandhu Tunnel Project. Harunur Rashid said that the tunnel work has progressed slightly more than 95 percent. Two tubes, three cross passages, pavement slabs of both viaduct tubes, arch mesh shell installation and painting of rain shelters on east and west sides have already been completed. While the cable connection, fire extinguisher, lighting work is going on in the tunnel’s electromechanical wires, jet fan installation has also been completed. 5 thousand 350 meters of approach road on both ends is almost completed. Preparations are underway to complete the entire work by next February after completing other ongoing works. Apart from this, the final tests are being done so that there are no errors in the work done so far.
In this regard, the Executive Engineer of Dohazari Roads and Township Department (Soaz) Tofail Miah said that out of the six lanes of Shikalbaha Y Junction road connected to the tunnel, four lanes will be completed for the time being with the tunnel work. 75 percent of the work on these four lanes has already been completed. There were some acquisition problems, these are over. Therefore, the work of the remaining two lanes will be completed next December, said this official of Sauz.
Incidentally, the Bangabandhu Tunnel has been built under the Karnaphuli River in the model of ‘One City Two Towns’ by uniting Chittagong city and Anwara Upazila in the model of Shanghai city in China. At one end of this tunnel is the heavy industrial area of Anwara. Chittagong city, airport and seaport on the other side. This tunnel will connect the city and the village in one thread. Bangladesh Government and Chinese Exim Bank have jointly financed this project.
