BR to revive study project

The Bangladesh Railway (BR) is considering reviving the cord line study project shelved by Sheikh Hasina's government as investment in the project will reduce both travel time and operational cost on Dhaka-Chattogram rail corridor.
Officials said although importance of the cord line study and detailed design work is high, the railways ministry directed the BR to stop the cord line study on March 12 last along with a new Hardinge bridge study project.
The two projects were two components of a rail communication system development technical assistance project under which total 11 studies have been carried out with the support from the Asian Development Bank.
However, the remaining nine study projects have been continued recording 31.40 per cent physical progress and 13.18 per cent financial progress till July last.
"It may not be possible to go for a mega rail sector project during the interim government period. But, study and detailed design of the cord line can be carried as it is more than important for the BR to reduce cost and time of train operation between the country's prime rail corridor," said an official attached with the project.
The BR has been trying to establish direct link between Dhaka and Chattogram through establishing a new track through Narayanganj and Laksam of Cumilla during the last one and two decades as its all trains on Dhaka-Chattogram rail corridor run through Tongi and Gazipur route. But this project always faced hindrance what the BR officials said due to political interest.
The cord line is likely to reduce 92 to 93 kilometre distance on the current 320-km Dhaka-Chattogram corridor reducing train operation time below three hours from current five hours.
Earlier, the state-owned train builder and operator estimated a cost of $1.5 billion to construct the track through Narayanganj which is known as Cord Line when Sheikh Hasina's government planned to introduce a high-speed train on the same corridor estimating the cost at $ 10 billion.
BR sources said resuming the study on the cord line would be finalise next week and its importance is also high due to carrying simultaneously study on electric traction on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor. To complete the two studies, including the cord line, would be Tk 180 million.

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