C T Online Desk: The trial run of a train on the newly completed railway line on Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar route is set to be conducted on October 15.
The trial train has already arrived at Chittagong’s Patiya railway station.
Each compartment of this train can accommodate up to 60 passengers, said Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar Railway Project Director Mofizur Rahman.
He stated that 88% of the 101km railway from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar has been completed.
The remaining work is scheduled for completion this month.
Sources said that the inauguration date is contingent on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s availability.
Due to manpower, engine, and coach shortages, the office of the general manager of the East Zone of Bangladesh Railway has proposed initially operating only one pair of trains — meaning a train will travel from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar via Chittagong.
According to the two proposed schedules, the train would depart from Dhaka at night and arrive in Cox’s Bazar the following morning, returning to Dhaka the next day.
A railway official said that commencing passenger train services before December poses a challenge.
Currently, six inter-city trains operate between Dhaka and Chittagong, which could be extended to Cox’s Bazar.
However, this expansion needs manpower, engines, and carriages, which are presently unavailable.
Therefore, reaping the benefits of this Tk15,000 crore project will require waiting for a few more years.
According to the railway authorities, there is a possibility of trains operating at speeds of up to 140 km per hour on the newly constructed Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway line. These trains will consist of brand-new coaches acquired from China.
Notably, the 20-axle load trains are unsuitable for crossing Kalurghat Bridge. To address this, the Bangladesh Railway has inked an agreement with contractor Max Infrastructure to renovate the bridge at a cost of Tk43 crore.
Project sources have disclosed that completed works include 39 bridges, 242 culverts, and 144 level crossings.
The construction of six railway stations out of nine has been completed, while three other stations will be completed by next December.
The work on the remaining stations is going in full swing now, according to officials.
The 100km route will have nine stations at Satkania, Lohagara, Chakaria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya, and Gumdhum.
Extending from Dohazari in Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu, the railway has been expanded to Ghumdhum border near Myanmar. The government has also initiated a 128km railway project from Cox’s Bazar to Myanmar.
The primary goal is to introduce high-speed tourist trains between Dhaka, Chittagong, and Cox’s Bazar, while also linking Bangladesh with the Trans-Asian Railway, including Myanmar.
The current construction phase focuses solely on the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar section, with the 28km stretch from Cox’s Bazar to Myanmar not presently under construction.
