The century-old Kalurghat Bridge is an important component of the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar direct rail link, scheduled to be inaugurated in September. To make it usable for large locomotives and coaches, the authorities issued a work order to a private firm on June 18. But since the restoration could not begin, uncertainty looms over the planned inauguration of the rail link.
During the renovation, which may take eight months, vehicles and commuters will have to cross the Karnaphuli River on two ferries. However, the major portion of the work on the bridge will be completed within three months, according to the Engineering Department of the Eastern Railway.
For this reason, train services from Chittagong to Dohazari will remain suspended for three months.
The authorities signed the agreement with Max Infrastructure Limited, the lowest bidder among five companies, and renovation work was supposed to begin on June 20. But the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has not been able to finalise the toll rates for vehicles and passengers using the ferries.
The RHD now seeks two more weeks to prepare the toll chart.
Pintu Chakma, RHD Chittagong Executive Engineer, confirmed the RHD's preparedness to commence the ferry service. However, the proposed toll rates are currently under review at the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry.
Construction work on a new rail bridge will begin after all preparations are done. "The bridge is expected to be completed by 2028," Railway Secretary Md Humayun Kabir said recently.
The Kalurghat Bridge, a 638-metre-long steel structure built in 1931 under the Assam Bengal Railway, initially catered solely for trains. However, in 1962, road traffic was introduced, making it a vital transportation route.
Despite its dilapidated condition, thousands of vehicles ply on one lane of the bridge, and a few trains use the rail tracks of the bridge every day. Currently, trains can only cross the dilapidated bridge at a speed of 10km per hour. Following the renovation, the railway authorities expect trains to run through it at a speed of 50-60km per hour.
The bridge is a crucial transport route for many residents of nearby Boalkhali Upazila. Every day, at least 50,000 people cross the bridge.
Earlier, the railway authorities shut down the bridge twice between 2004 and 2012 due to safety concerns.
The Railway Lands Department has been responsible for collecting tolls from vehicles passing through the bridge.
However, once the ferry service commences, the toll collection for vehicles will become the responsibility of the RHD.
Abu Zafar Mia, Eastern Railway Chief Engineer, emphasised the importance of completing the renovation work on the Kalurghat Bridge before September to ensure the successful operation of the train service to Cox's Bazar.
He said: "We have appointed contractors for this purpose. Furthermore, the contractor has already installed ancillary equipment in the bridge area. Unfortunately, due to the delay in starting the ferry service, the contractor is unable to commence the main work of repairing the bridge by halting traffic."
