Construction of Karnaphuli tunnel
$705m deal inked with China co
UNB
The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry yesterday signed a US$ 705 million deal with a Chinese firm to implement the multi-lane dream tunnel to be constructed beneath the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong, reports UNB.
Bridges Division Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam and Chairman of China Communication Construction Company Ltd (CCCCL) Liu Qitao inked the deal in Beijing, said an official.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister of Bangladesh Obaidul Quader, Chinese Transport Minister Yang Chuantag, Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on Foreign Ministry Dr Dipu Moni were present at the signing ceremony.
Before the signing, a bilateral meeting was held between the two countries with the two ministers leading their respective side.
At the meeting, Obaidul Quader said Karnaphuli Tunnel is a dream project for the people of Chittagong region. The economy of Chittagong as well as the economy of the country will have a boost once the project is implemented.
He thanked the Chinese government for their investment and finance in various sectors, including road, bridge, power and agriculture in Bangladesh.
On June 9 last year, Bangladesh and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on construction of a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River.
Bangladesh expects that the tunnel, once implemented, will to give a boost to the national economy helping the country fetch a high volume of investment.
It is expected that it will create new avenues of economic activities over tourism industry, industrial parks, special economic zones, deep seaport, new power plants, LNG terminal and Asian Highway.
The construction of the tunnel will begin by December this year and is likely to be completed in four years.
