The train arrived at Cox’s Bazar, the largest iconic railway station in Asia, at 6:20 PM on Sunday (November 5). At that time, the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway was illuminated by the light of the train, although it was dark all around. Within a minute the train came to a screeching halt in front of the iconic world-class railway station. After that, the procession started immediately, people of all ages took part. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was thanked by the procession.
Eyewitnesses said that thousands of people stood in front of the first train arriving at Cox’s Bazar railway station even though the procession and slogans stopped. He took pictures leaving the train behind. People rushed to get on the train to open the compartment door. Many also fight. Still, they said, the desired dream has been fulfilled.
Before this, the train will arrive at 5 pm, so hundreds of people throng the station in front. But finally miking is done to remove these people. As they did not pay attention to that, finally the police entered the field to remove these people.
Locals said that the tourism industry will undergo radical changes through this railway line. Our hundred year wish has been fulfilled. Today is our Eid day.
The first train of Cox’s Bazar route was brought by Locomaster Mahfuzur Rahman and Assistant Locomaster Md. Rukon Mia. They said, by traveling in the first train of Cox’s Bazar, we witnessed history. We are very happy. He is very happy to be a part of the development.
Before leaving the train, General Manager (Additional Duties) of Railway Eastern Region, Nazmul Islam told reporters that the general rule is that when a new railway is constructed, the railway is inspected. This is also part of it. It is not a trial train. Inspector Ruhul Quader Azad of Railway Inspection Department is with us. If he does not certify after the inspection, he cannot operate the train. If it’s safe to go, we can go. We also have track, signal and electrical department engineers. Everyone will evaluate the railway together.
Centenary Kalurghat Bridge was one of the obstacles for trains to travel on this route. The renovation work started on this bridge last August under the supervision of a group of experts from the Civil Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Initially the bridge was made suitable for railway traffic. Last Saturday (November 4) 63 ton, 78 ton and the heaviest 90 ton engines were tested on the railway bridge. After the successful completion of this operation, there is no more hindrance in the running of trains on this railway.
Abu Zafar Mia, chief engineer of the eastern region of the railway, said that 70 percent of the bridge renovation work has been completed. Walkway and welding work is pending. But the train is serviceable. It will take a month to finish the rest.
Mohammad Nazmul Islam, General Manager of Railway Eastern Region, said that this huge work of 18 thousand crore taka started in 2018. It will take seven hours from Dhaka and two and a half hours from Chittagong to go to Cox’s Bazar. It will depart from Dhaka at 9:10 PM and reach Cox’s Bazar at 6:30 AM. It will depart from Cox’s Bazar at 1 PM and return to Dhaka at 9:10 PM.
After the inauguration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 11, the commercial journey will begin from December 1.
According to railway information, in 2010, the project of construction of 128 km railway from Dohazari in Chittagong via Ramu to Cox’s Bazar and from Ramu to Ghumdhum near Myanmar was taken up. Its main objective was to ease the traffic in Cox’s Bazar. Also connecting Bangladesh with Trans-Asian Railway including Myanmar. Chittagong already has railway line up to Dohazari for train movement from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar. 100 km railway from Chittagong’s Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar is in progress. The initial cost of this railway construction is 1 thousand 852 crores. In 2016, after revising the project proposal, the expenditure increased to Tk 18 thousand 34 crores. Out of this, the Asian Development Bank is providing 12,000 crores and the rest is being borne by the Bangladesh government.
The construction of this government priority project started in July 2018. Chinese contractor China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) and Tama Construction Company of Bangladesh and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Max Infrastructure Limited of Bangladesh are doing the work in two separate parts.
News Source : Somoy News
