A train left Chittagong Railway Station on Sunday, on a trial basis, to inspect the construction work of the newly built rail tracks stretching from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar.
The test run is being conducted ahead of the formal inauguration by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 11.
The train, carrying railway officials, left the Chittagong station at 9:20am, though it was scheduled to leave at 8am. The train will reach the newly-built Cox’s Bazar station through Dohazari in the evening.
Locomotive Master Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, with Assistant Locomotive Master Rukhan Miah, is operating the train.
Guards, members of the Railway Police, and officials of commercial and transport sections of the country’s Eastern Railway Zone are also going to Cox’s Bazar by the train.
Nazmul Islam, director general of the railway’s Eastern Zone (Chittagong), told UNB that the project cannot be inaugurated without inspection by the Department of Railway Inspection.
Ruhul Amin, inspector at the Eastern Zone, said the aim of the trial is to inspect whether the newly-built rail line is fine.
Earlier on Saturday, three engines of the train ran on the Kalurghat Bridge on a trial basis.
On October 16, Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan inspected the rail line from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar by a trolley.
According to the project officials, a 102km new dual gauge single railway line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar has been built at a cost of Tk18,000 crore.
On April 3, 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of the railway line between Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar and Ramu-Gumdhum.
