Started over a decade ago, the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar-Gundum railway project has been delayed by two more years as the government extended its execution time up to June 2024, said officials involved with the fast-track project.
Earlier, the project execution deadline was in June 2022.
Meanwhile, the execution cost of the Bangladesh Railways (BR)'s mega project has been increased on two occasions.
The ongoing execution cost of the project is Tk 180.34 billion.
An official said 72 per cent of the total work of the 128-kilometre rail route connecting the port city with beach town Cox's Bazar through train was completed as of June 30, 2022.
Sources said the project, one of the mega schemes of the BR and categorised one of the fast-track projects of the government, was supposed to be completed within June 2022. But, they said the implementing authority could not end the construction work within the earlier scheduled time due to coronavirus outbreak and other reasons. As they failed to meet the deadline, they appealed to the concerned ministry of the government to extend the timeline by two more years till July 2024 to complete the rest 28% work, the sources added.
The 128-km train route in the two southernmost districts will have nine railway stations and 19 big bridges dotting the way.
When contacted, Project Director (PD) Md Mofijur Rahman, however, hoped that they can complete hundred per cent work of the project within June 2023.
After completing the construction work, a trial run of train on the route can be held in July next year," he said, adding around 72 per cent of the total work has been completed so far.
"As we couldn't complete the project within the scheduled time in 2022, a letter was sent to the ministry of railways requesting to extend the deadline till 2024. But we hope that we can complete setting up railway tracks on Dohazari-Cox's Bazar-Gumdum railway route within 2023. As we need to verify the capacity and other technical sides, more time is required to complete the project," he said.
He said they have already completed setting up 40 km rail lines including 35 km in Cox's Bazar part of the project and 5 km in Chattogram part. "We are setting up the signal system now. Besides, over 80 per cent work of 19 bridges and culverts has been done," he informed.
Noting that the project has been categorised among the fast-track ones prioritised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said its construction work is going on in full swing now as per directives of the Prime Minister. Currently cutting of soil, constructing bridges, station, culvert, level crossing and an iconic railway station in Cox's Bazar are underway, he added.
Officials said, the 128-km route will have nine railway stations at Satkania, Lohagora, Chokoria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya, and Gumdum. These stations will have hundred per cent computer-based interlocking signal system and fully digitalised telecommunications network.
Moreover, three large bridges are being built over the Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bankhali rivers, along with 43 small bridges, 201 culverts and 144 level crossings, he stated. A couple of crossings on highways will be constructed in Ramu and Cox's Bazar and a flyover at the Kewchiya area of Chattogram's Satkania.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation of the project in April 2011. A total of 88-km-long railway tracks will be installed from Dohazari to Ramu, 12km from Ramu to Cox's Bazar and 28km from Ramu to Gumdum. An iconic rail station is being constructed in the shape of an oyster where all international standard facilities will be available.
