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The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) could manage only 1.5 per cent progress of the country's first road tunnel construction project under the Karnaphuli River during the corona pandemic-caused lockdown period from March 25 to May 10.
Officials said works of many mega projects across the country were totally suspended during the period. But, various works of the Karnaphuli Tunnel project, including boring, viaduct, pier cap, and tunnel segment construction etc, could be continued.
"We could accomplish 1.5 per cent physical progress of the project from March 25 to May 10, and 55.49 per cent financial progress during the outgoing fiscal year (FY), 2019-2020," said Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Belayet Hossain.
Mr Hossain, also the BBA executive director, said the progress could be made for working at the tunnel construction site and abroad.
Ground work of the Tk 103.74-billion Karnaphuli multilane road tunnel project was launched on February 24, 2019 with the inauguration of tunnel boring work.
Its 51 per cent progress could be made until February 2020, a month before the country started detecting coronavirus cases.
In the current FY, Tk 13.49 billion was allotted for the project under the annual development programme (ADP), and its financial progress was 55.49 per cent until this March.
According to the latest progress report till May 10, 53.5 per cent physical progress of the project and 43.81 per cent financial progress are recorded.
The BBA officials said some progress of the multilane road tunnel project has been possible amid the lockdown due to availability of Chinese contractor and confined area.
They also said 72 Chinese nationals, involved with the Karnaphuli tunnel project, went to their home before the lockdown started here. But 45 of them joined the project later. Another 80 Chinese nationals are also expected to join soon.
Some 293 Chinese engineers, technicians and workers are now working in the project.
The report showed that 44 per cent progress has been made in constructing 727 metres viaduct at Anwara site. Besides, cent percent work of 121 cast-in-situ bored pile, 103 concrete piers, 46 collar beam, and 46 pier caps have been completed.
During the lockdown period from March 25 to May 10, a total of 458 metres boring work of first tunnel tube has been completed.
The report also showed that 74 per cent segment casting work of the total 19,616 has been completed in the Chinese city of Jiangsu. Some 10,528 segments arrived in Chittagong, of which 6,868 were placed in the tunnel.
The BBA is executing the 3.5-kilometre-long four-lane road tunnel with financial support of the Chinese government. Of the total US$ 1.05 billion project cost, the Chinese government is providing $705.0 million.
Total length of the tunnel is around 9.1 km with 4.89 km approach road alongside 740 metres bridges, linking the port-city of Chattogram and Anwara upazila, western side of the city. The tunnel, after construction, will also reduce the distance with Cox's Bazar.
China Communication Construction Company Ltd, which worked as the consultant for the project's feasibility study, was later selected as its contractor also.