By In a significant stride closer to enhancing transportation connectivity, the Bangabandhu Tunnel has officially opened for traffic in Tetulia, Bangladesh. This infrastructural marvel, named in honor of the u . S . A .’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, holds immense promise in facilitating smoother and greater green journey between regions. This newsletter explores the key functions and potential impacts of the newly opened Bangabandhu Tunnel.
The significance of the Bangabandhu Tunnel
1. Connecting regions
The Bangabandhu Tunnel serves as a crucial hyperlink, connecting areas and fostering local integration. By means of offering an immediate and efficient route, it reduces tour time and enhances connectivity among Tetulia and neighboring regions.
2. Monetary effect
Improved connectivity regularly translates to monetary growth. The tunnel opens up possibilities for expanded change and trade, reaping benefits organizations in Tetulia and surrounding regions. The green movement of goods and those can contribute to financial development.
3. Enhanced Accessibility
The tunnel enhances accessibility for residents, making it less complicated for them to access vital services, training, and healthcare. This accelerated accessibility has the potential to improve the general fine of lifestyles for people in Tetulia and nearby regions.
4. Tourism increase
Infrastructure trends which include the Bangabandhu Tunnel can stimulate tourism by way of making it greater handy for vacationers to explore the splendor and sights of Tetulia and its environment. This, in flip, can make a contribution to the local economy through tourism-related sports.
Five. Strategic importance
From a strategic attitude, the Bangabandhu Tunnel holds significance in terms of country wide defense and emergency reaction. It gives an opportunity and efficient route, ensuring continuity of essential services even in hard circumstances.
Key features of the Bangabandhu Tunnel
1. Duration and design
The Bangabandhu Tunnel boasts a big duration, designed to accommodate a easy waft of visitors. The engineering and architectural issues aim to make sure the safety and efficiency of automobiles passing thru.
2. Contemporary safety features
Ready with modern-day protection functions, the tunnel prioritizes the nicely-being of commuters. Advanced ventilation systems, emergency exits, and surveillance mechanisms contribute to creating a at ease and reliable transportation passage.
Three. Technological Integration
Technological improvements are included into the Bangabandhu Tunnel to decorate operational performance. Smart site visitors control systems, real-time tracking, and communication infrastructure contribute to a unbroken visitors experience.
4. Environmental considerations
Sustainability is a key factor of the tunnel’s layout. Measures to reduce environmental impact, which include energy-efficient lights and eco-friendly construction substances, show a commitment to balancing infrastructural development with ecological responsibility.
5. Collaborative Efforts
The development and implementation of the Bangabandhu Tunnel are the result of collaborative efforts among governmental agencies, engineering corporations, and stakeholders. This collective technique guarantees that the tunnel meets the very best requirements of protection, functionality, and societal gain.
Predicted influences on Tetulia
1. Decreased visitors Congestion
The tunnel is predicted to significantly lessen traffic congestion in and round Tetulia. Via imparting an alternative direction, it redistributes visitors, minimizing delays and enhancing basic visitors waft.
2. Time and fuel savings
Commuters are possibly to enjoy time and gasoline savings with the outlet of the Bangabandhu Tunnel. The direct and efficient course reduces journey distances, contributing to a greater sustainable and fee-effective transportation answer.
Three. Commercial enterprise increase
Neighborhood businesses in Tetulia may also witness growth because of multiplied accessibility. With improved connectivity, companies can reach a broader client base, and the region can also entice new investments and economic possibilities.
Four. Network improvement
The tunnel’s starting is expected to make a contribution to community improvement by offering residents with better get entry to to academic, healthcare, and recreational facilities. This, in turn, can enhance the overall nicely-being of the network.
Five. Catalyst for regional improvement
Past Tetulia, the Bangabandhu Tunnel can act as a catalyst for nearby improvement. Reinforced connections among regions foster collaboration, change, and cultural alternate, developing a high-quality ripple effect at the development of neighboring regions.
Talukder Tetulia Post 37: Bangabandhu Tunnel opens for traffic
Editorial note: The opening of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in Chattogram
marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development. The country’s first
underwater tunnel, constructed to be earthquake-resistant and with state-of-the-art features,
exemplifies the nation’s commitment to modernization and connectivity.
While initial traffic
flow may have been hampered by opposition-led hartals, this architectural marvel promises to
transform the region’s economy, enhance trade, and facilitate industrialization, contributing to
Bangladesh’s GDP growth and reinforcing its position as a regional economic hub. As the tunnel
paves the way for smoother connectivity and regional development, it stands as a testament to
engineering innovation and strategic foresight. – by Talukder Tetulia, Washington DC
[original news https://businesspostbd.com/national/bangabandhu-tunnel-opens-for-traffic ]
Bangabandhu Tunnel opens for traffic
UNB . Chattogram | 29 Oct 2023 14:38:23
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in Chattogram opened for vehicular
movement on Sunday morning.
The tunnel was opened for vehicular movement at 6am on Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first
underwater tunnel built under the Karnaphuli River.
However, traffic movement remained low due to the on-going countrywide hartal called
by the opposition parties.
Several vehicles have been seen waiting for driving through the tunnel since early
morning, reports UNB’s Chattogram correspondent.
Munshiganj-based businessman Jewel Rana was the first passenger to pay the toll at
the Anwara end of the tunnel at 6am and cross it in just three minutes.
Dulal Sikder from Chattogram was the first to pay the toll at the Patenga end of the
tunnel.
Toll manager Belayet Hossain said 217 vehicles crossed the tunnel in the first three
hours.
“The tunnel was opened for traffic in the morning. Although the traffic movement
through the tunnel remains low, it may increase as the day progresses. But if there was
no hartal, there would have been more vehicles,” he said.
As many as 14 boxes have been set up at Anwara end to collect the toll.
Deputy Project Director of the Bangabandhu Tunnel, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, said that
the tunnel will remain open for vehicular movement 24 hours a day.
“Toll lanes will be reduced if traffic decreases late at night,” he said.
Vehicles can run at a maximum speed of 60 kilometres in the tunnel.
According to the Bridges Division, as many as 17,374 vehicles will cross the tunnel
every day in the first year after the opening. Of these, 3,218 are heavy vehicles. In
2025, the number of vehicles passing per day will be 28,305.
A total of 12 categories of vehicles will be able to ply through the Bangabandhu Tunnel.
The minimum toll for traffic movement in the tunnel has been fixed from Tk 200 to a
maximum of Tk 1,000. However, motorcycles or three-wheelers will not be allowed in
the tunnel.
On Saturday, the prime minister crossed the Bangabandhu Tunnel in a 21-vehicle
motorcade and paid a toll Tk 4,000.
Bangabandhu Tunnel: A unique architectural landmark
This tunnel has been built as earthquake-resistant up to Richter scale nine. “This tunnel
is 18-31 metre under the riverbed as the earthquake’s effect is lesser under twenty
metres. So, we are not worried about such incidents in the future,” Md. Harunur Rashid
Chowdhury told The Business Post on Thursday.
The tunnel has been constructed in soft soil, which is a unique feature.
The authorities have used state-of-the-art ventilation, lighting, communication, drainage,
and firefighting systems for the tunnel.
“We have a control to keep an eye on the tunnel and if there is any problem, they will
notice that right away. Within five minutes the operation and maintenance team will
either remotely solve the problem or rush to the spot. There will be standby teams of
police, firefighters, and Bangladesh Navy round the clock,” he said.
Vehicles will be allowed to ply at a speed of 60kmph. There are more than 100 cameras
in the tunnel to oversee speeding issues.
“The tunnel is dark inside and we have a lighting system round the clock. We will not
have power cut problems as well as there are two electricity lines and generator
backups and UPS,” he said.
The tunnel also has four floodgates to prevent water from going inside in case of
devastating floods. There are floating pumps to bring out water if needed.
There will be scanners to prevent any vehicles carrying illegal goods from using the
tunnel.
The PD said that the tunnel was a new experience for Bangladeshi engineers and many
challenges. “After we started excavation and completed five per cent work, we saw that
the boring machine was tending coming to the upper level as the soil under was harder.
In the lowest part of the tunnel, the engineers found soil deformation that forced us to
stiop working for four months,” he said.
The project authorities called experts from China to find alternative ways to solve this
problem. “For this complexity, we completed construction of the first tube in 17 months
but managed to complete the second one in ten months,” he said.
Tunnel to contribute to the economy
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president
Mahbubul Alam said Bangladesh is going to enter the era of underwater road tunnel
which is of course a pride for the entire nation as well it will facilitate the business
community hugely.
The tunnel would boost industrialization in the region as two export processing zones in
Chattogram-KEPZ in Anwara and Chattogram EPZ in Halishahar- and Chinese
Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Anwara will be highly facilitated by the tunnel,
he said.
Alam said it would connect the proposed Asian Highway with Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’s
Bazar Highway by reducing distance by 40km and it will also facilitate the ongoing and
planned power and energy hub in Cox’s Bazar, which is already a tourist hub of the
country.
Thus it will have significant contributions to the country’s GDP like Padma Bridge, the
FBCCI president said, reports BSS.
Apart from the tunnel, he said, if a Dhaka-Chattogram expressway can be built and a
master plan is taken to boost a planned industrialization on the bank of river Karnaphuli
to turn it as a Smart city, it will be highly beneficial for country’s economy as well as it
can boost Bangladesh’s connectivity with ‘seven sisters’ of India including Mizoram and
Manipur expanding trade and business as well as tourism in the region.
As per the project details, the length of the entire route is 9.39 kilometers (5.83 mi), with
the tunnel making up 3.32 kilometers (2.06 mi) of the length while it’s diameter is 10.80
meters (35.4 ft).
It has been built at a cost of Tk 10,374 crore and of which around half is financed by the
Exim Bank of China.
It will improve the Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway network. A Chinese
company, China Communications Construction Company, constructed it.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the
construction site of the Karnaphuli Tunnel on October 14, 2017.
On 24 February 2019, Sheikh Hasina also inaugurated the tunnel boring phase.
The multilane tunnel route passes through the river close to Navy College on one side
and Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company
(KAFCO) on the other. It will also ease traffic congestion on two bridges over the
Karnaphuli River.
Chattogram deputy commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakruzzaman said the
tunnel will expedite the county’s economy and regional trade and commerce by turning
Chattogram into one city with two towns.
