Bangladesh Railway (BR) is currently focusing more on developing chord lines rather than converting the metre gauge into dual gauges along the Dhaka-Chattogram rail corridor, due mostly to austerity in funding totalling Tk 300 billion.
Sources said that the priority for the chord-line development has been reinforced as state-owned train operator and builder BR has received assurances from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) regarding project funding.
The roughly estimated cost for chord line development was US $1.5 billion, excluding the option of electric traction.
Railway's efforts have been directed towards establishing a broad gauge double line for the chord line, extending from Fatulla, Narayanganj to Cumilla-Laksam.
In railways, a chord line is a railway line that connects two points on a longer route, thereby providing a shorter distance between the two points. The chord line is typically straighter than the longer route, which can save time and fuel for trains.
This would significantly reduce the distance between Dhaka and the port city Chattogram by at least 90 kilometres, thereby shortening travel time by around one and a half hours.
However, the authorities could not develop chord lines due to non-cooperation from various stakeholders.
Sources said that BR took an initiative a few years ago to convert the existing 321 km double line of the Dhaka-Chattogram rail corridor into dual gauge in two phases - Tongi-Akharua and Laksam-Chattogram - with a deadline of 2027.
Despite obtaining approval from the Planning Commission to prepare the development project proposal two years ago, BR did not take further action.
An official said BR is awaiting the study report for the chord line, which is considered more practical than developing the existing corridor as a dual gauge double line.
However, the recent study also focuses on electric traction for the 90 km track, which may lead to an increase in both cost and implementation time.
BR has recently converted the 321 km corridor into a double line in metre gauge, marking a milestone almost 109 years after the first rail track was developed.
As part of its master plan, BR has the plan to transition the entire track to broad gauge by 2040 and stop buying all metre gauge trains by 2025.
Previously, BR had also taken the initiative to establish a high-speed train on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor, with an investment of over $10 billion. However, this project was abandoned in favour of a more cost-effective investment in the chord line development.
Officials said that despite facing prolonged challenges, the chord line development is now making progress, as the Asian Development Bank has already included the project in its funding pipeline for 2024.
smunima@yahoo.com