China exports largest tunneling machine to Bangladesh

NANJING - A Chinese firm on Tuesday rolled off China's largest shield tunneling machine for export, which is destined for Bangladesh to assist with a river tunneling project.

The export of the machine produced by Tianhe Mechanical Equipment Manufacturing Co Ltd based in East China's Jiangsu province will break the monopoly of ultra-large tunneling equipment by developed countries in the exports, according to Zhou Jun, chief engineer with the Chinese firm.

The machine with a diameter of 12.12 meters weighs 2,200 tons. It will be used for opening a 3,500-meter road tunnel under Karnaphuli River.

"The tunnel construction has been a dream for Bangladesh people, as we want to develop Chittagong Port as good as China's Shanghai," said Kabir Ahmed, chief engineer of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.

The upcoming tunnel is expected to shorten the ride between Chittagong Airport to a planned industrial park, from 4 hours to 20 minutes.