CHATTOGRAM, Nov 15, 2022 (BSS) - The construction works of Chattogram-
Dohazari-Cox's Bazar-Gumdhum (CDCG) train route is going on in full swing.

Mohammad Mofizur Rahman, Project Director (PD) of CDCG said over 73 per cent
construction works of the project has been completed on Nov 15 this year
while the remaining 27 percent will be done by June 2023 next.

Mofizur Rahman hoped that the rail communication will begin before December
2023 before six month of stipulated time.

BR sources said that the schedule of the project was to be completed in June
2022 and it has been extended by two years until June 2024.

The completion schedule has already been extended a number of times.

The project envisages laying 100-km of dual gauge railway line with nine
station buildings, platforms and sheds.

He said a total of nine new rail stations have already been constructed on
the new rail route to ensure fast and smooth movement of trains from the port
city to the tourism town Cox's bazar as part of the mega project, he added.

PD Mofiz said, construction works of 28 bridges, out of 39, including four
major ones, and laying of 52-km railway tracks, out of 100 km have so far
been completed,

Besides, the Bangladesh Railway (BR) has taken up a Taka 80 million project
to renovate the century-old Kalurghat Bridge on the Chattogram-Dohazari-Cox's
Baxar rail route to facilitate uninterrupted running of trains on the route,
the PD said.

BR entrusted Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
experts for conducting the feasibility studies, to enhance the capacity of
the old bridge. The old bridge is capable for a train carrying 10- ton load
to pass at 10 km per hour.

Sources said the 239-metre-long Kalurghat dual-purpose bridge has now become
unfit for both train and road traffic that built in 1,930 over Karnaphuli
River.

The century old bridge has been playing a remarkable role in both rail and
road communications between the port city and southern part of Chattogram
district, and Cox's Bazar district.

Project Director Mofizur Rahman said over 73 percent construction work of the
project has been completed so far. But, we cannot complete all work of the
project within the previously set scheduled time of June 2022. So, we have
sent a letter to the concerned ministry for extending the time to June 2024.
Now we can hope that the plea will be accepted and the Chattogram-Dohazari-
Cox's Bazar-Ghumdum rail line project that will be completed before December
2023 and trains will run on the route in December 2023," he added.

He hoped that the rail communications will begin by December 2023 before six
month of stipulated time.

Out of the Taka 18,034 crore project cost, Taka 6,034 crore is being met from
domestic sources while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing Taka
12,000 crore as credit.

Two Chinese firms are implementing the project.