CHITTAGONG: Communications Minister Obaidul Quader claimed on Friday that 3-Kilometer-long Karnaphuli Tunnel Project would be started from January next.

The minister made the disclosure while visiting the airport area in Patenga of the city selected for the project.

The project would be set up from January on 2015 and assumed to end on 2018 that would cost Tk 9,000 crore. But the experts said within three and half year the construction work would be completed, he said.

He also added ‘China Construction Company’ (CCC) and ‘Arup’ would jointly work to implement the project.

The alignment was also selected verifying the possibility of the project, but the government could amend this. The project construction work was being started from two kilometer lower stream of airport area, the minister added.

He added that the project would open the golden gate for Chittagong city. The tunnel would ease the traffic congestion as it would be connected with National Highway and Asian Highway.

The contract was signed in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s China visit where the country assured to give aid.

State Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed to Ministry of Land, Rail affairs parliamentary committee President Fazle Karim Chowdhury, MP MA Latif, MP Didarul Alam, CDA Chairman M Abdus Salam, Deputy Commissioner Mezbha Uddin, city Awami League general secretary AZM Nasir Uddin, south district AL president Moslem Uddin, among others, were present in the visit.

BDST: 1557 HRS, JUNE 27, 2014