Tk11 crore tunnel turns hazardous within 2 years, poor maintenance blamed
The 520-foot-long, 25-foot-wide tunnel—hailed as a project to ease traffic congestion and boost tourism—now forces commuters to endure pitch darkness, dripping walls, muddy stretches, and potholes
Highlights
- Tk11 crore Bandarban tunnel turned risky within two years of inauguration
- Commuters face darkness, leaks, mud, and potholes daily
- Locals allege poor construction and lack of maintenance
- Contractor denies irregularities, blames landslides and theft
- Authorities admit leakage, missing lights, and plan to hand over to municipality
The Tk11 crore tunnel, built as a connecting road to Bandarban's central bus terminal, has deteriorated into a fragile and hazardous state just two years after its inauguration, sparking public outrage.
The 520-foot-long, 25-foot-wide tunnel—hailed as a project to ease traffic congestion and boost tourism—now forces commuters to endure pitch darkness, dripping walls, muddy stretches, and potholes.
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Hundreds of schoolchildren and daily commuters face the brunt of the risks.
"In less than two years, water is leaking inside and soil keeps collapsing. I fear it might cave in any time," said auto-rickshaw driver Mahbub.
Local businessman Pavel Barua alleged that despite spending Tk11 crore of public funds, the project has delivered no benefits, only suffering.
"Although the authorities were tasked with maintaining and keeping it clean after construction, there has been little evidence of such efforts," he alleged.
The tunnel was initiated in the 2018–19 fiscal year under the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board and inaugurated in October 2023 by then-minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing.
Investigations revealed that the construction work was awarded to a contracting firm named MM Traders. Mong A Marma, one of the four owners of the construction firm, passed away two years ago due to illness.
Denying any irregularities in the construction, one of the owners of the firm, Raju Barua, told TBS, "This was basically a connecting road. There was no mismanagement in its construction. However, mud has accumulated due to landslides, and drainage pipes were stolen, which caused the mud inside."
But residents and rights groups remain unconvinced. "If construction quality was proper, water leakage and cracks wouldn't appear so soon. Accountability must be ensured," said Aong Chaw Mong Marma, president of the District Corruption Prevention Committee.
However, Aong Chaw Mong Marma, president of the District Corruption Prevention Committee, said, "If the construction quality had been proper, water leakage and wall cracks wouldn't appear so soon. Accountability must be ensured."
Locals argue the Tk11 crore structure has failed to deliver on its promise of easing travel and boosting tourism. Instead, it has become a symbol of poor planning and questionable construction quality—leaving commuters in daily misery.
In this regard, Abu Bin Yasir Arafat, executive engineer of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, said although construction was completed five years ago, the tunnel was inaugurated only two years back.
He explained that it was essentially a connecting road that took the shape of a tunnel.
Arafat acknowledged water leakage from wall joints and added that the lights and geo-bags installed during inauguration were stolen, worsening the situation.
The process of handing it over to the Bandarban Sadar municipality is currently underway, he added.
