Construction work on a project launched in 2011 to set up 129-kilometre-long railway tracks from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar is going on in full swing now after halts multiple times during coronavirus outbreak last year and a brief stoppage amid the second wave of the pandemic earlier this year.
The ADB-funded $1.5 billion project aims at establishing better connectivity between the port city and the beach town of Cox's Bazar near where another important port is going to be established in Maheshkhali upazila.
The rail line, which has been marked as a fast-track project by the government, will be completed in 2024, officials said.
They stated that multiple halts for Covid-19 outbreak and a delay to complete acquiring lands required to set up the rail line has made it very much unlikely that the project would be implemented within the scheduled time in December 2022.
"Installation of railway tracks for the route will not be completed by December 2022, rather it is likely to be ended in 2024 due to various reasons including the corona outbreak and the land acquisition delay," officials, having full knowledge about progress made in the project so far, said.
Contacted, Project Director (PD) Md Mofijur Rahman told the FE, 50 per cent work of the project has already been completed. The rest work cannot be completed within the scheduled time in 2022, he confirmed.
"Around 50 per cent work has been completed till now but we cannot complete the rest work within the scheduled time of 2022. So, we have already sent a letter to the ministry concerned requesting them to extend the time by two more years," he added.
The 129-km rail-line will go through Chandanaish, Satkania and Lohagara upazilas of Chattagram district, Chakaria, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar and Ukhiya upazilas of Cox's Bazar district and Gumdum upazila of Bandarban district near the Myanmar frontier.
Sources said the first phase construction work, involving setting up a 101-kilometre railway track, out of the total 129 km, began in December 2017 after the project was kicked off in April 2011.
A total of 52 major and 192 minor railway bridges and culverts, 118 level crossings, two underpasses and five overpasses for the movement of elephants would be constructed under the project, officials involved with implementation of the project said.
Project Director Mofijur Rahman said, "We are hoping that we can fully complete setting up the railway tracks from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar and Gumdum within the scheduled time.
As we need to asses and verify some important aspects, including capacity and other technical sides, more time is required to complete the project."
He said the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar-Gumdum rail line is a mega project of the government which has been categorised among the fast-track projects prioritised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"We were working to inaugurate the rail track by 2022 but it is not possible now. However, around 50 per cent work has already been completed," he noted, adding "Currently cutting of soil, constructing bridges, stations, culverts, level crossings and an iconic building for rail station in Cox's Bazar are all underway."
Sources said, the rail route will have nine railway stations dotting the way - one each in Satkania, Lohagora, Chokiria, Dulahazra, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya and Gumdum Upazilas and another one at Eidgah.
All the railway stations will have computer-based interlock signaling system and digital telecommunication network. Moreover, three large bridges will be built over the Sangu, Matamuhuri and Banskhali rivers, along with 43 small bridges, 201 culverts and 144 level crossings. Two highway crossings will be constructed in Ramu and Cox's Bazar and a flyover at Kewchhiya area of Satkania.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation of the project in April 2011.
An official said an iconic railway station in Cox's Bazar is being built in the shape of an oyster where all international standard facilities will be available.
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