Construction of a 128-kilometre Dohazari-Ghundum railway line via Cox's Bazar is set to start next month with completion of the land acquisition process in two or three weeks.
The land acquisition in both Chittagong and Cox's Bazar is at its final stage. Deputy Commissioners of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar will pay compensation to the land owners within next few days.
Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Amjad Hossain said this at an informal meet-with-reporters held at the CRB (Central Railway Building) rest house on Friday evening. General Manager of Bangladesh Railway (East) Abdul Hai was also present.
The DG said piling works on the lands owned by the Railway authority will start within a few days on the 100- km Dohazari-Cox's Bazar section. This is one of the fast-track mega projects the government is going to implement on priority basis.
He said the Railway authority will also enhance cargo transportation from the Chittagong port after replacing a number of railway engines and goods wagons in next two years because lifetime of many engines and wagons has expired and they need replacement.
There is growing demand from importers and exporters for strengthening cargo transportation by the railway wagons because it is cost-effective and safe.
The businesses are suffering a lot due to extra charges on transports at Xcel control overload for heavy-load carriers at three points on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
In reply to a query, the Railway DG said the Kalurghat rail-cum-road bridge on the Chittagong-Dohazari section over the River Karnaphuli will be constructed alongside the Dohazari-Ghundum-Cox's Bazar railway network.
Construction of dual gauge railway line for running Dhaka-Chittagong high-speed train is also going on in full swing, he added.
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