Laksam-Akhaura dual gauge rail line construction work progressing fast

Our Correspondent | Published: March 04, 2020 21:14:04

CUMILLA, Mar 04: Construction work on the 72-km dual gauge railway line from Laksam to Akhaura in Brahmanbaria is progressing fast.
When the project is completed, travellers will be able to move fast on different rail routes including Dhaka-Chattogram, Chattogram-Sylhet within a very short time.
According to railway sources, the cost of implementing the project has been estimated at Tk 65.04 billion. The project is expected to be completed in June this year. If the project is implemented within the stipulated time, the country's railway sector will achieve an unprecedented success. It will take only 3.5 hours to go to Chattogram from Dhaka.
Railway sources said the distance from Dhaka to Chattogram is 325 km. Of these, the dual-gauge is 118 km. Immediately after Awami League came to power in 2008, an initiative was taken to upgrade the entire railway track from Dhaka to Chattogram.
Keeping it in view, the railway tracks have already been upgraded to 253- km dual-gauge line. The remaining 72- km is from Laksam to Akhaura. The project to upgrade the Laksam-Akhaura Railway dual-gauge was approved in December, 2014. The tender was invited on May 04, 2015. The contract was signed with the contractor on June 15, 2016.
Sources also said under Laksam-Akhaura Dual-Gauge Railway Project, a 144- km dual gauge main line and a 40.60- km loop line will be constructed.
According to Railway sources, China Railway Engineering Corporation, Toma Construction and Max Infrastructure (CTM Joint Venture) are working jointly as the contractor for Laksam-Akhaura Railway. Already, about 65 per cent of the work has been completed.
After completion of the Dual Gauge Laksam-Akhaura Railway line, the number of trains will increase and the line capacity will be upgraded from 23 pairs to 72 pairs. Regional and international freight transport will be developed. If one line is closed due to train derailment, the other will continue and the train accidents will also come down the source added.
Above all, the government's non-profit railway sector is likely to become a profitable venture, the source further said.
Laksam-Akhaura Dual-Gauge Railway Project Director Md Arifuzzaman said, the project work began in November, 2016, and is expected to be completed by June, 2020.
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