CHATTOGRAM, Oct 09: The Chattogram-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar-Gumdhum (CDCG) rail route will commence its commercial operation in December this year as the renovation of Kalurghat Bridge is ongoing.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) sources said the inauguration of the CDCG rail line has been postponed to November 12 from the initially scheduled date of October 28.
The trial run of the train on the Chattogram-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route, however, is set to begin on October 15, as most of the construction work on the rail track has been completed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the CDCG rail line on November 12.
General Manager of BR (Eastern Zone) Md Jahangir Hossain said, 'We aim to launch the CDCG train route as soon as possible. We are making preparations to commence the trial run with the imported Korean coaches."
He said, "It is imperative to repair the bridge for train movement on the Cox's Bazar route. BR will first increase the load capacity of the old bridge. The renovation works are currently underway at full pace."
However, Project Director (PD) of the CDCG train route project Mohammad Mofizur Rahman said, "Over 90 per cent of the construction work for the project has been completed, and the remaining tasks will be finished within the next six months after commencing the route next month."
He said, "There are existing rail lines from Chattogram to Dohazari. We are constructing rail lines from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar. The construction works are almost finished, and we will complete the final touches within this month to initiate the trial run in October."
He added, "A train has been prepared at Patiya rail station to commence the trial run on the Chattogram-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route on October 15."
Meanwhile, BR is renovating the old Kalurghat Bridge. The works to renovate the bridge started on August 1. As a result, the movement of vehicles on the old Kalurghat Bridge is fully suspended. Vehicles can cross the river now by ferry services.
It may be mentioned that the CDCG 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.
However, the implementing authority could not finish the work within the previously scheduled time due to the pandemic and other reasons. As the authority failed to meet the deadline, they appealed to the concerned ministry to extend the timeline by two more years, until July 2024.
The 128-km route of the project has nine railway stations at Satkania, Lohagora, Chokoria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya and Gumdum.
These stations have a cent-per cent computer-based interlocking signal system and a fully digitalised telecommunications network, according to BR officials.
The prime minister laid the foundation of the project in April 2011.
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