The train will go to the tourist city of Cox’s Bazar in October. For this purpose, the final stage of the railway line from Chittagong’s Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar is going on. Six coaches and one engine of the train have already been kept ready for the inauguration, which has been standing in front of Patia railway station for the past one month.
In this context, the master of Patia railway station said, Nezam Uddin told Bangla Tribune, ‘The renovation work of Kalurghat Bridge started last August 1. From August 7, the movement of trains and vehicles along the bridge was completely stopped. Earlier on August 6, six new bogies and a 2200 series engine were introduced. Which are kept in front of Patia railway station. Cox’s Bazar-Dohajari railway will be a trial run and inaugurated through these coaches and engines. For this, the carriage and engine have been prepared in advance.
Kalurghat Bridge is being renovated quickly for the smooth movement of trains from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar, said the Chief Engineer of Railway Eastern Region Md. Abu Jafar Mia. He said, ‘The bridge is being strengthened. The renovation started on September 1. All types of vehicles and trains will be closed till October 31 for renovation work. Once the renovations are completed, traffic and trains will resume.’
According to railway sources, the process of renovation of the bridge has started at a cost of about 55 crore rupees. The bridge is being renovated as per the recommendations of the Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET) consultant team. The 638-metre-long bridge was declared vulnerable in 2001. At present, 10-ton heavy engines travel on the Chittagong-Dohazari railway line over the bridge. The maximum speed while crossing the bridge is 10 km/h. However, the weight of the engine going to Cox’s Bazar will be 12-15 tons. The maximum speed of the train will be 80-100 kmph.
Mofizur Rahman, director of the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway project, told the Bangla Tribune, “The construction of 92 km railway line in Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar has been completed. Almost all the bridge-culverts, big and small, are visible. The progress of the project is about 88 percent. The target is to complete the project within this month. Preparations are underway for the inauguration of the project next October. Work is underway for this purpose.’
Meanwhile, Satkania, Lohagara, and Chandnaish upazilas of South Chittagong were drowned in the six days of continuous rain that started on August 7. 250 meters railway line was damaged in Temuhani area of Satkania upazila due to flood. In those areas, rocks and soil moved from the railway line. Because of this, several parts of the railway line can be given. Damaged railway lines have been repaired after the floods.
The project of a 100 km railway line from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar is being implemented at a cost of Tk 18 thousand 34 crore 47 lakh. On April 3, 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the meter gauge railway construction up to Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar. Among them, 88 km from Chittagong’s Dohazari to Ramu and 12 km from Ramu to Cox’s Bazar. The construction of a dual gauge and single-track railway project started in 2018, almost seven years after the inauguration by the Prime Minister. Initially, the project cost was estimated at 1 thousand 852 crores. In 2016, after revising the project proposal, the cost increased to 18 thousand 34 crore 47 lakh taka. It was financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Bangladesh. It is included in the priority projects of the government. So far, the progress of the project is 88 percent. Out of 100 km, 92 km section of the railway line has been completed.
News Source: Bangla
Tribune
