Latest Update From Bangladesh: Chattogram’s Karnaphuli Tunnel Service Area Holds Major Tourism Promise, Needs Redesign to Deliver

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On the bank of the Karnaphuli river, where the river meets the Bay of Bengal and the sea wind blows gently along Parki’s palm-fronded beach, stands a vast, silent and strangely desolate edifice – 72-acres of it, constructed with grace, hubris, and some 450 crore taka of public money. This is the service area of Bangladesh’s first underwater tunnel, the Karnaphuli Tunnel in Chattogram.” Although the tunnel has been electrified since October 2023, the service area supplied, which is extremely infrastructure and sight-view-filled is relatively sparse at present. But for tourism planners and officials at all levels and in all states, it is a key that could unlock an entirely new era of regional travel.

A Gem of a View with Bonus Location

The service area is strategically located in the Anwara upazila and is 4 kilometres away from the Shah Amanat International Airport and within 10 kilometers of 4 export processing zones and the thriving Chattogram Port. A coddled environment, with Parki Beach one side and an adjoining beach a mere kilometre in the other, the place taps into two opposing energies – nature at play and industry at work.

“Being a transaction hub built by enterprises, Ctrip’s platform offers mainly business models for constituents inside China and beyond, while the tourism service providers are lacking,” READ’s Ye said. For foreign buyers stopping off at its nearby industrial zones this could mean world-class hotels with sea views, while Bangladeshi families could one day trip to a high-end coastal retreat without ever leaving Bangladesh.

A High-Cost Vision Left Unused

The service area was at first planned as a luxury residential development. With a VVIP bungalow, 30 architect designed cottages, convention centre, ultra modern restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts, health centre, amphitheatre, mosque and even water treatment plant, the compound reeks of luxury and planning. But months after the tunnel opened, it sits unoccupied, a gargantuan expenditure that stemmed from the city’s enormous wealth but has had little discernible effect on it.

There was not enough working and no active board to direct the organizations. The complex, consisting of landscaped gardens and winding internal roads, has not yet hosted a paying guest.

A Tunneler’s Financial Burden

This underutilisation will be a burden on the overall Karnaphuli Tunnel project, which amount to over TK10,000 crore. The tunnel only serves an average of around 3,934 vehicles per day. The toll collected, approximately TK10. 4 lakh a day, which only meets 30 percent of daily expenditure of TK37. 5 lakh. That has created a daily shortfall of more than TK26 lakh and a total loss of over TK90 crore.

Officials with the Bangladesh Bridge Authority have admitted to feeling the financial pinch. Now, leasing the service area to private operators is being considered as a way to unlock revenue streams, more fully use the tunnels and exploit the site’s untapped tourism potential.

A Fresh Emphasis on Private Sector Involvement

The service area was put out to lease for tourism work by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority on June 29 and local tenders were invited. The lease is expected to run close to 30 years, and decisions will be taken on investment in new facilities, visitor numbers and business plans.

“The range already have the world class infrastructure,’ said Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf. Making this available and leasing it will generate economic revenue, but will also make these facilities open to the public. It can be a big boost for tourism and generating the revenue to make up for the tunnel’s impact.”

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While the leasing scheme is to be welcomed – who wouldn’t want to spend a night on a pristine island? – some experts believe that the area’s original design has little regard for tourism. Brigadier General ASM Ali, CEO of Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View, noted that the confined and secluded nature of the premises could be better adapted as a resort as opposed to a traditional hotel. He also pointed out that the beach and the neighbouring river estuary are not currently accessible from the site, which would make it less attractive to guests.

He said a study should have been conducted by an international tourism consultant to check the feasibility before tenders were invited. The study would help determine whether the site could be developed for eco-tourism, business retreats or family resorts.

Voices From the Local: Frustration and Missed Opportunities

“We’re hopeful but also frustrated,” said Didarul Absar Didear, the director of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh and CEO of Bangladesh Eco Tours. “The site has huge values of potentials but you can see that there is not an integrated planning Although the management is not standardized in the tourism system of our country,” he said. Based on an experience of three decades, he emphasised that bureaucratic inconsistency and policies contradicting policies have always stood in the way of the country’s inbound tourism.

“Despite the presence of an enviable natural and cultural capital, we observe that they are very infrequently transformed into sustainable and competitive tourism initiatives. The Karnaphuli service area may just become another white elephant,” added Moni.

Cox’s Bazar Highway Link a Potential Game Changer

As part of an effort to promote the use of the tunnel and the number of tourists visiting it, the government plans to kick off work on further expansion of the road, linking the service area with Cox’s Bazar Highway. It will enable traffic from Dhaka and other towns to avoid Chattogram city completely, reducing travel time considerably to the coastal areas.

The construction of the nearby Chinese Economic Zone and a new township at Anwara that the Chattogram Development Authority is overseeing, too, is likely to drive more people through the tunnel to the area.

Local Tourism for Revival of Economy and Opportunities

Well developed, the service area could serve as a magnet for day-trippers, honeymooners, business travellers and foreign visitors alike. With the sea-facing view, state-of-the-art facilities and space enough for events, it is expected to not only serve as a tourism gateway for Chattogram but also for this vast belt of southern region including Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and Teknaf.

Additionally, the local economic gains could be huge. Food, transport, and local tour experiences could be a boom for SMEs. Skilled Artisans and business entrepreneurs from Anwara and its adjoining area would easily find the market place and sell their goods and cultural products. Hotels and transport services would expand their networks. The spot could also be a training center for hospitality management and sustainable tourism.

Tourism Needs More Than Infrastructure freopen The planned conditions will benefit from the recent attention of high-ranking officials to the recycling facilities operated by the private sector in the area.

Realistically, you cannot rely on just your infrastructure to succeed as a destination. Accessibility, programmes, marketing and visitor services are just as important. International tourists are looking for experiences — sunset walks, river cruises, seafood tasting, cultural festivals. Locals are desperate for weekend getaways, recreational areas and safe beaches. The Karnaphuli site has to provide both.

Experts recommend turning it into a tourism village or mixed with ecolodges, budget and mid-level accommodations, public beach access, sports and cultural zones, river access and green areas. Marketing to local and international travelers would be key, particularly in the years after a pandemic travel rebound.

Reflection: Unlocking the Sleeping Giant

As dusk settles on the serene pavilions of lush KaAnaphuli Tunnel Service Area, you can almost imagine them teeming with life—families giggling near the amphitheatre, tourists sipping coconut water by the pool, couples snapping sunset selfies at Parki Beach.

But for that to happen, Bangladesh needs to move — boldly, collectively and strategically. “It seems natural now, but service area represents no failure as much as a tabula rasa. With the right vision, it could easily become Chattogram’s next great tourism draw and a leading exemplar of sustainable, integrated regional tourism.