Mohiuddin Jewel, Chattogram
Despite obstacles like Covid-19 pandemic, the people concerned are seeing the possibility of completing the work of Bangabandhu Tunnel project under Karnaphuli within the stipulated timeframe.
The project undertaken in 2015 is scheduled to be implemented by December next year. Expenditure has been estimated at Tk. 10,374. 42 crore.
Of this, the government of Bangladesh has financed Tk 4,461.23 crore. Besides, the Chinese government is financing Tk 5,913.19 crore.
According to them, the work of the project is 71% ahead of the target so far. It is expected that the project will be completed within the specified time if the import of construction materials is facilitated through foreign labor complex and port.
Like other mega projects in the country, the construction of the tunnel under the Karnaphuli was hampered by the outbreak of covid-19. However, so far this project is ahead in terms of meeting the target.
According to the latest data of the project, the progress target of the project in May was 1.33%. In contrast, the progress has been 1.15%. As of this August, the overall target has been met at 71%.
But, the supply of mega projects has been hampered by the labor crisis, as well as the disruption of global product delivery activities, as well as the spread of covid.
The tunnel construction project is far ahead of the other projects in Bangladesh. The work of the project is progressing fast within the stipulated time despite the obstacles as there are no difficulties like automatic construction and river governance at the bottom of the river.
According to the engineers working on the project, the Karnafuli tunnel project was complicated at the beginning of the transition, even though it is currently being implemented. The physical progress of the project did not meet expectations in the first half of 2020 due to labor crisis.
Due to the pandemic, the arrival of foreign workers was stopped and the progress of the project slowed down at that time. The project employs an average of 600 domestic workers per day, but the average daily number of workers during the general holiday has come down to 200-250.
When contacted, Multi-lane Karnafuli tunnel project director Harunur Rashid Chowdhury said "we are ahead of estimates in construction so far. However, due to the deteriorating situation in Corona and the complexity of procurement of construction materials through the port, there are some doubts about the completion of the work by 2022."
``If everything goes well, the work can be completed within the stipulated time. All the concerned agencies of the government including the contractors are trying to resolve the issue, " he added.
