Bangabandhu tunnel opens tonight

All is set for opening the multilane Bangabandhu Tunnel under the River Karnaphuli in the port city tonight (Friday).

Bangabandhu Tunnel Project Director (PD) Harunur Rashid said the 9.092 kilometres (km) long four-lane tunnel under the river, first of its kind in the country, will be opened experimentally mainly for viewing by people from Friday night.

The tunnel set for opening on trial basis for viewing by people of the port city Friday night (October 8) as 90 per cent physical work has already been completed, he said.

The tunnel will be formally opened for public sometimes in the middle of next year, well before the scheduled time of December 2022, he said, adding, the first tube was fully completed earlier this year.

The PD said that the construction work had remained stopped from March to August 2020 due to coronavirus outbreak.