The government has taken a move to connect Matarbari, Bangladesh's proposed largest energy hub, with the country's railway network as it will start a feasibility study on this soon, officials said Wednesday.
It will also see viability to upgrade the existing Chittagong-Dohazari railway line and setting up of Inland Container Terminal (ICD) at Dhirassram, Gazipur under a technical assistance project, railway officials said.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) officials said they had sought approval of a Tk 2.15 billion project by the Planning Commission to conduct the feasibility study on setting up of railway tracks to connect the Matarbari, construct Dhirassram ICD and upgrade Chittagong-Dohazari railway line.
"Since Matarbari of the Maheshkhali Island is going to be the largest energy hub in Bangladesh, it is likely to be the busiest corridor for passengers and freight of the country. So, railway connectivity is imperative," said General Manager of the BR SK Chakrabarty.
The government has already started work to set up 1,200-megawatt (MW) capacity coal-based power plant with financial support of the Japanese government. Japan is also bankrolling a modern township development project there along with setting up of a sea-port for coal handling in Matarbari.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also assured the government of funding another 1,200MW capacity coal-based power plant at the Maheshkhali Island.
Mr Chakrabarty said if the government wants to connect Matarbari Island, we need to upgrade the existing 46-kilometre Chittagong-Dohazari railway line.
"When the BR will set up the Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar dual-gauge line, the existing Chittagong-Dohazari metre-gauge line will need to be upgraded. The above move will ensure upgradation of the railway track in the near future if the feasibility study proves viable," he told the FE.
A feasibility study has recently been completed with the financial support of the ADB for constructing the 128-kilometre Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar and Ramu-Gundum tracks near Myanmar railway line.
Mr Chakrabarty said they would conduct feasibility study for setting up of an ICD at Dhirassram in Gazipur aiming at handling freights to be carried by the railway.
A senior Ministry of Railway (MoR) official said with the growing population in Dhaka city, it is impossible to handle freight at the existing Kamalapur ICD. "So, the Dhirassram ICD could be a good choice for the government to shift the Kamalapur ICD."
According to the Tk 2.15 billion technical project proposal of the BR, it will complete the feasibility by June 2019.
Of the total Tk 2.15 billion cost, the ADB will provide Tk 1.63 billion and the rest amount will come from the government's coffer.
Construction of the railway line up to Cox's Bazar, the country's largest tourism city, is imperative to attract thousands of tourists every year.
Currently, lack of smooth transport facility from capital city Dhaka to Cox's Bazar is adversely affecting tourism development of the country, experts said.
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