New possibilities of industry around Bangabandhu Tunnel
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Bangabandhu Tunnel
city on one side and the other side of the coast! On one side of the bright light, the other side is dark! This is how people have been recognizing the two banks of the Karnaphuli River for many years. Due to this difference, the economy and lifestyle also meant many differences. Hundreds of facilities including ports and oil refineries have been built on one side. On the other hand, there was sixteenth grade negligence. But the distance between the two banks is not even one kilometer.
'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel' bridged the gap of 'so close, yet so far'. The two banks of the Karnaphuli River had two identities for so many years only because of the underdevelopment of the communication system. Now, due to the tunnel, the gap between town and village has been removed. Karnaphuli's Anwara side is also now grasping the immense potential of the economy.
Although Anwara-Karnaphuli is the closest upazila, it seems that it was far behind in development. However, in the 1995 grand plan, Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) mentioned Anwara Upazila (not yet Karnaphuli Upazila) as a growth center. Several projects were also taken around that upazila. But later they were implemented very little. Finally, the development in that growth center has yielded fruits. Anwara is no longer a village, now a suburb thanks to the tunnel because one end of the tunnel is at this end.
Improved quality of life due to tunnels:
Broken on one side, narrow on the other side. Once people had to undergo indescribable pain to go to South Chattogram for such a road. Hours would pass just crossing the Anwara border. The Anwara-Banskhali entry road for the tunnel has now been upgraded to six lanes. Due to which the Banskhali road is being reached in the blink of an eye. The Patia-Chandnaish road has also been widened due to the tunnel.
Shamsul Islam, an official of a private company in Chattogram city, a resident of Banshkhali, was saying. He said, "The tunnel has been made under the Karnaphuli river. But we Banshkhali residents are also getting its benefits. Due to the tunnel, the entrance of the Anwara-Banskhali road has now been upgraded to six lanes, so there is no need to stand in the jam for hours.
Not only the development of the road around the tunnel. There are various institutions including clothing, medicine and steel factories, commercial markets, restaurants, hospitals. Some of these buildings are still standing. Others are in the process of being developed. This image was seen on the ground on Monday (October 23).
Highlighting them, Mahfuzur Rahman, a resident of Dighi area of Kalabibi, said, 'Once upon a time we used to go to the city in search of work. Now that scene is gone. Now people from the city are coming here for work. Understand from this - what good news the tunnel has brought for us.
Due to the tunnel, a medical service institution named Anwar Mother-Child General Hospital and Diagnostic Center has been established in Golkata area. Halima Begum, a housewife who came for treatment there, told Barta24.com, "Once upon a time, we had to run to Chattogram city whenever there was any illness." Sometimes we had to go through broken roads, sometimes by sea. Now we have a hospital built around the tunnel. That's why our suffering is also reduced.
The area, once plunged into darkness due to the tunnel, will now be open for 24 hours a day. Considering that, a 24-hour hotel has been opened in the Dighi area of Kalabibi. The hotel named 'Tunnel Restaurant and Biryani House' will stay open day and night. That is what the hotel owner said. He said, once it was evening, our area used to sleep. Not a single person could be seen on the road. That day is no more. Now there is 24-hour traffic. It will increase manifold after the opening of the tunnel. That's why I started this hotel.
Before and after pictures of the tunnel:
According to the Feasibility Study Report, this tunnel will create new economic potential in around 50,000 acres. At the other end of the tunnel will be the new door of the economy. Over the years, 85 percent of the industrial factories were located on the banks of the Chattogram part of the Karnaphuli River. Only 15 percent was in Anwara Bank. Although it is not equal now, the difference is believed to be close. Before the tunnel, the factory was only on 1500 acres. After the tunnel it will increase manifold to 12 thousand acres.
Before the tunnel, industrial plants were only 1.7 percent. After the tunnel it will stand at 24 percent. Housing will also increase. Now housing is 10 percent, it will increase to 20 percent. However, agriculture and fishing will decrease due to the pressure of industrial factories and housing. Now agriculture and fish farming is 47 percent. It will come down to 21 percent. Due to the tunnel, the distance will also be reduced many times.
Employment will also increase along with industries. A feasibility study said that industrialization and communication will create 17,000 new jobs here every year. It will reduce unemployment. Poverty rate will decrease. And the contribution of the tunnel to the country's GDP will be 0.16 percent.
Professor HM Salimullah of Chattogram University's Department of Economics sees great economic potential due to the tunnel. He said, 'due to the tunnel, trade, employment, production and supply of goods and services will increase manifold. When we calculate these contributions in terms of total value to GDP, we see the tunnel's contribution to GDP. We consider that a huge contribution.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, Member of Parliament of the local Anwara-Karnaphuli Constituency and Minister of Lands, said that due to the tunnel, South Chattogram will have a huge positive impact. He said, once South Chattogram along with Anwara was neglected. It is no longer there. This is now a very promising area due to the government's massive development program including tunnels.
