Cox's Bazar's proposed railway station is to be oyster-shaped, and work is underway to build a 128km track connecting the beach town to the country’s main railway networks—via the port city of Chittagong—officials said Thursday.
“The station will be built at the Cox’s Bazar beach and will be shaped like a huge oyster,” project director of Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar-Ghungdhum Railway Line Mohammad Mofizur Rahman said.
He said the shape was designed to synchronize the structure with the world’s largest natural sea beach, the abode of millions of oysters adding: "This huge [artificial] oyster will comprise a platform, passenger lounges, and offices."
The project director said: "Under the supervision of our prime minister’s office, construction to complete the railway track, at a cost of Tk18035 crore, by 2022, is in full-swing. Around 22% of work on the project is complete and the land has been acquired."
Rahman stated that for this project, 88km of track is being built from Dohazari of Chittagong to Ramu of Cox’s Bazar, 12km from Ramu to Cox’s Bazar, and 28km from Ramu Ghumdhum.
According to the project officials, the total 128km of railway will have nine stations: Satkania, Lohagara, Chakaria, Dulahazra, Eidgah, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar sadar, Ukhia, and Ghumdhum. They will use a computerized interlocking system for railway signalling control and a digital telecommunications system.
A junction station will also be built at Ramu—on the way to Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar from Chittagong—as from the junction, a railway line will go towards Cox’s Bazar beach and another towards Ghumdhum under Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban district.
Three large bridges will be built on the Sangu, Matamuhuri, and Bakkhali rivers; while 43 small bridges, 201 culverts, and 144 level-crossings will be constructed for the railways, alongside a flyover which will be built in Keuchiya area.
The railway will be connected to the trans-Asian railway networks and it will act as an important route for regional and sub-regional railway communications, officials said.
Apart from making the journey easier, more comfortable, and cheaper—for local and foreign tourists travelling to this region—this railway project will connect Bangladesh's railways to: India, Myanmar, China, and Turkey.
It will also contribute to the economy by boosting business and commerce.
Describing the project's progress, its director, Mafizur Rahman, said the camp-office has been built near the Cox’s Bazar Eidgah; while a material-testing laboratory has been constructed at Ramu.
Previously, in April 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation of this project kicking off the construction work.
However, construction was delayed due to legal complexities and other problems.
The construction of this long-awaited railway is expected to end by 2022.