Bangladesh Railway (BR) has taken a move to construct second railway bridge with road facility over the Karnaphuli river, as a site some 80 metres upstream of the existing bridge in Kalurghat, Chittagong has been found feasible for it.
Sources said the Korean consultant concerned in its draft report shared with BR that it has recently found the location, some 2.1 km from Chittagong and 1.4 km from Dohazari, feasible for constructing the 720-metre new bridge.
The first railway bridge in Kalurghat was constructed in 1931. Gradually it turned unfit for both vehicle and pedestrian movement, causing severe traffic jams in the locality.
The authority concerned kept the one-way rail-cum-road bridge closed for a long time, and reopened it in June 2005 after some renovation work.
Official sources said the new rail-cum-road bridge will be constructed with dual gauge rail-track with financial assistance from the Korean government.
"The new bridge, having rail on one side and road on the other side, is expected to revitalize local economic activities by improving traffic condition, as commuters have to spend several hours every day to cross the bridge," said an official.
He said cost of the bridge is yet to be finalised, as some major changes may be proposed in its design. Final draft of the feasibility study will be submitted to BR next month.
At present three road bridges exist over the Karnaphuli at different locations, connecting the port-city with Cox's Bazar and other hill districts.
Besides, the government has taken steps to construct a tunnel under the same river to ensure connectivity with other side of the port-city, where special economic zones are being planned.
BR officials said as the government has plan to improve railway network of the port-city with Cox's Bazar and other districts, the proposed railway bridge will also help establish a better regional connectivity across the region.
They said under technical support from Economic Cooperation Development Fund (ECDF) of Korea, a Korean firm conducted the feasibility study and is likely to construct the bridge.
A delegation of ECDF is expected to arrive in the country to hold meetings on financing of the new rail-road bridge.
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