Tongi-Bhairab double track rly now to be completed by 2015

With more than 75 per cent construction of the Tongi-Bhairab double track railway project complete, the scheduled time for the project is likely to be extended up to May 2015.
Upgrading the existing single track to double to increase line capacity of the lone Dhaka-Chittagong railway track began 28 months back and within this time the progress has been satisfactory, said Toma Construction and Company Limited (TCCL) managing director Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan (Manik).
He said his company is working as sub contractor and it is the achievement of local company that they are doing a high tech job like the line upgrading project.
The project to upgrade the 65 kilometres long track into double track is being funded by the Asian Development Bank.
Project director Sagar Krishna said though the completion time was October this year but extension of time is a must.
He said, "Political unrest is the only cause behind extension of the project time. There has been no delay or slow performance among the sub contractors and contractors.
He said, "The project is likely to be completed within May 2015."
The TCCL managing director said, currently out 320 kilometre long Dhaka Chittagong Railway only 117 kilometres have double track and the ongoing project would add more 65 kilometers double track within next year.
He said rest of the single track would be upgraded into double track in phases as per the government's move with financial support from the donor agencies.
Currently a train has to wait at a station for another to pass as there is single track in many places. Mr. Krishna said, the line capacity would be increased and travelling time would also be reduced after completion of the double track upgrading project.
He said the double track line would also help increase trips between Dhaka and Chittagong.
Mr. Bhuiyan said, along with upgrading into double track, many infrastructure development works are also going on in the 65 kilometers long project site.
He said modern signalling systems, a good number of small and medium bridges, new passenger stations and other facilities are being constructed in the project.
Along with construction work in the Tongi Bhairab site, project study is also going on in the Comilla, Noakhali and Syllet zones for upgrading into double tracks in those zones.
A trip from Dhaka to Chittagong takes longer time compared with distance and if would be reduced soon after upgrading the whole line into double tract, the railway project director said.