The Karnaphuli Tunnel project in Bangladesh should be complete in late 2022 – image courtesy of © Butenkow, Dreamstime.com
Construction of Bangladesh’s major Karnaphuli Tunnel project is due for completion in late 2022. The link roads to the new tunnel have now been finished. The total length of the link is 9.8km, with the tunnel itself measuring 3.32km and featuring a 10.8m bore.
The project is costing US$985 million to carry out. The Chinese Government is providing $642 million for the project, with the remaining $343 million being provided by the Bangladesh Government.
When the tunnel link is complete it will reduce the journey distance between Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar on the other bank of the Karnaphuli River by around 40km. It will also provide an improved connection between Chittagong and Anwara upazila. The new link is expected to carry a high percentage of heavy transport vehicles travelling to and from Chittagong’s port area.
The project is one of many major transport infrastructure works being carried out in Bangladesh, helping to build the country's economic development.
