The construction work of the Chittagong-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar-Gumdhum (CDCG) train route is continuing in full swing.
Mohammad Mofizur Rahman, project director of the CDCG rail route, said over 73% of the construction work of the project has been completed, and the remaining 27% will be finished by June 2023.
Mofizur Rahman hoped that rail communication on the route would begin before December 2023, six months ahead of the current deadline.
Bangladesh Railway sources said that the project was originally scheduled to be completed in June 2022, but the deadline was extended by two years until June 2024.
The project involves laying 100km of dual gauge railway lines with nine station buildings, platforms, and sheds.
The project director said the nine new rail stations have already been constructed, and the rail route will ensure fast and smooth movement of trains between Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.
He added that the construction work of 28 bridges out of 39, including four major ones, and laying of 52km of railway tracks out of 100km have so far been completed.
Besides, Bangladesh Railway (BR) has taken up a Tk80 million project to renovate the century-old Kalurghat Bridge on the Chittagong-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail route to facilitate an uninterrupted running of trains, according to the project director.
Bangladesh Railway entrusted Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) experts with conducting the feasibility studies on enhancing the capacity of the old bridge. The old bridge is capable of bearing a 10- ton load carried across at 10km per hour.
Sources said the 239-metre-long Kalurghat dual-purpose bridge has now become unfit for both train and road traffic. The bridge was built over the Karnaphuli River in 1930.
Project Director Mofizur Rahman said: “We cannot complete all work of the project within the previously set deadline of June 2022. So, we have sent a letter to the ministry concerned for extending the time to June 2024. We hope that the plea will be accepted and the Chittagong-Dohazari-Cox's Bazar-Ghumdum rail line project will be completed before December2023."
Of the TK18,034 crore project cost, Tk6,034 crore is being met from domestic sources while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing Tk12,000 crore as credit.
Two Chinese firms are implementing the project.
