CHATTOGRAM, Sept 23: Train trial run on the Ctg-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route will begin on October 15 next as most of the construction work on the railway track has been completed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may inaugurate the railway line in October 28.
However, project director Mohammad Mofizur Rahman said, "Over 90% of the construction work of the project has been completed, and the remaining work will be done within the next six months after inauguration of the route next month."
He said, "There are railway lines from Chattogram to Dohazari. We are constructing railway lines from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar. The construction work is almost completed. We will complete the finishing touch within the current month to start the train trial run in October."
He said, "A train has been kept ready at the Patiya railway station to start the trial run on the Chattogram-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route on October 15, seven months before the stipulated time."
General Manager of Bangladesh Railway (BR) (Eastern Zone) Md Jahangir Hossain said, "We want to open the train route as early as possible. We are preparing to start the trial run with the imported Korean coaches."
According to project officials, a total of 128km single-line and dual-gauge railway lines have been constructed between Dohazari and Cox's Bazar. There are 39 major bridges and 242 culverts on this railway line. Besides, underpasses and overpasses have been built for movement of elephants.
The project, one of the mega schemes of the BR and categorised as one of the fast-track projects of the government, was scheduled to be completed by June 2022. But, the implementing authority could not end the construction work within the previous scheduled time due to the coronavirus outbreak and other reasons. As the authority failed to meet the deadline, they requested the concerned ministry to extend the timeline by two more years till July 2024.
However, now, the work of the project is continuing in full swing. The authority is trying to complete the project before expiry of the extended schedule.
The 128-km route will have nine railway stations at Satkania, Lohagora, Chokoria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya, and Gumdum. These stations have a hundred per cent computer-based interlocking signal system and fully digitalised telecommunications network. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the project in April 2011.
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