Md. Shahidul Islam, Chittagong
TheMultichannel Karnaphuli Tunnel Project will begin in December. China finallywiring the required loans by this November, confirms Economic Relations Division. Two ship already have arrived from China, with the necessary materials & tools for the tunnel construction. Six more will be docking soon.
3.4 kilometers long multichannel tunnel highway-route will be built under the KarnaphuliRiver, for better transportationconnection between Dhaka & Chittagong. Estimated budget is 8,446 crores taka. China promised for lending 4,800 crores taka long-term loan to Bangladesh, only at 2% interest rate for 20 years.
Many claimed that, the infrastructure works were halted for months, since the Exim Bank of China was not confirming any date for the loan transaction. But, this prolonging was only part of the official processes. After all, it is a hugely funded project by the foreigners and the first of its kind in Bangladesh, assures Road Transport & BridgesObaidulMinister ObaidulQuader to the press. During his visit of tunnel construction site in Potenga, on 9 October. Such complexities never existed, he added.
Translated by: Eshan Maitra