Rail communication between Dhaka and Chittagong is going to get faster as the construction of double-track rail line between Chinki Astana in Chittagong and Laksham in Comilla is complete.
Upgraded from single-track rail line, the 61km double-track line is expected to be inaugurated this month by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said Shahidul Islam, additional chief engineer (track) at Bangladesh Railway, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune on Monday.
“Usually, an inspection committee examines a project for faults or errors after it is finished. The new track will be inspected tomorrow and Saturday, following which the inauguration date will be fixed,” said Divisional Railway Manager SM Murad Hossain on the same day.
“The newly built track will speed up rail communication between the two cities by at least two hours, as trains will no longer have to wait for other trains coming from the opposite direction to pass through,” Shahidul said.
Construction of the double-track rail line began in October 2011. Implemented by Bangladesh Railway, Tk1,525-crore project has been jointly financed by Bangladesh government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). Of them, the government paid Tk928 crore, said sources at Bangladesh Railway.
Another project of Bangladesh Railway to upgrade 64km single-track rail line between Brahmanbaria and Tongi will be complete by June, while a similar project to upgrade 71km single track between Akhaura and Laksham into double will be initiated around the same time, the sources said.
