Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said, “Next November 2, trains will be run experimentally on the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar route in Chittagong.” The minister said this after inspecting the progress of work from east to west side of Kalurghat bridge in Chittagong on Monday morning.
Nurul Islam said that a road bridge has been a long-standing demand of the local residents. Therefore, except this bridge, the work of a new bridge will be officially started next year.
There will be a four lane road and rail bridge. People from all over the country are interested in this railway line from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar. Overcoming all odds, the Prime Minister will officially inaugurate this railway on November 12.
The railway minister said that this bridge (Kalurghat) is very important for direct rail communication with other parts of the country.
This is a very old bridge. It is connected with railways. For this reason the bridge has been renovated. Will visit again on November 2 for formal and official confirmation after the railway line is fully constructed.
The minister said that on that day a train from Chittagong will go to Cox’s Bazar experimentally. There may be some minor errors. They will be fixed gradually.
The 100 km railway project from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar is being implemented at a cost of Tk 18 thousand 34 crore 47 lakh. On April 3, 2011, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of meter gauge railway up to Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar.
Among them, 88 km from Dohazari in Chittagong to Ramu in Cox’s Bazar and 12 km from Ramu to Cox’s Bazar.
9 railway stations, four major and 47 minor bridges have been constructed under the project. 149 box culverts and 52 round culverts have been constructed. There are 96 level crossings.
In 1930, the 638-meter Kalurghat bridge was built over the Karnaphuli river to Chittagong for trains. The bridge was renovated twice before. For the third time, Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar route is being renovated for train movement.
News Source: Kaler Kontho
