Almost a century-old rail bridge at Kalurghat near Chattogram city is unlikely to be replaced with a new one before 2030 as the project's financier postponed the contract-signing time.
This deferment in signing the Tk 140-billion project contract means a delay in making scope for smooth train operation in the Cox's Bazar region.
Sources said the project's Korean development partner put off the schedule in October as they expressed unwillingness to visit the country before February due to the January 07 general election.
As per the project timeline, the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) was supposed to exhaust detailed design work by October 2024 through selecting consultants after contract.
Due to the delay, sources said, neither the consultant selection process for design work was started nor approval of the development project proposal done.
The election also deferred land acquisition for a six-kilometre viaduct on either side of the bridge to increase the height to 12.2 metres from 7.62 metres.
"The loan agreement will now be signed by February 2024," said a project insider.
The Bangladesh Railway (BR) has been trying to replace the Kalurghat Bridge since 2012 after completing the first feasibility study.
But the project could not see its light failing to take decision on the design of the bridge as various proposals were placed by different quarters.
The BR finally decided to develop the 700-metre rail-cum-road bridge by August 2022 after the premier directed to go for a single-deck extradosed bridge with dual-gauge track and two-lane road option.
The PM picked the fourth out of five options recommended in the third feasibility study.
However, the importance of the bridge has increased, thanks to the development of a new rail track from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar and Matarbari Deep-sea Port.
The BR began to operate the first train between Dhaka and Cox's Bazar from December 01 with slow speed on the bridge.
As the BR could not complete Kalurghat bridge earlier, it finally strengthened the bridge through renovation to carry train operation with 20-km speed until a replacement.
The project got delayed as the latest study was done in June 2023 and Tk 140 billion was finally estimated based on the fourth option, said another insider.
Earlier, the project cost was estimated at Tk 11.63 billion with the height of 7.62 metres. The bridge, built in 1931 over the Karnaphuli river, was initially designated as a railway bridge.
Later in 1962, it was modified and turned into a rail-cum-road bridge facility for lack of road connectivity with other parts of the river.
The BR has planned to increase Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train operation on January 01 and thus introduced one set of commuter trains on the same track crossing the aged-old bridge.
smunima@yahoo.com