CHATTOGRAM, Sept 17: The Bangladesh Railway(BR) is waiting for Asian Development Bank's (ADB) approval to construct 45- km Ctg-Dohazari dual gauge track.
ADB has agreed to finance the project.
After approval by the ADB, BR will invite tenders to appoint a consultant for the project, BR sources said.
BR has a plan to construct a new broad gauge line from Pahartali to Dohazari to connect Dhaka with Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.
Currently, the construction of a new rail line in broad gauge from
The government has taken a project to convert the existing Chattogram-Dohazari metre gauge track into dual gauge track to connect Dohazari with Dhaka via Chattogram at an estimated cost of Tk10,797.09 crore.
It will facilitate construction of the Trans-Asia Railway Connectivity to connect Bangladesh with China, Pakistan, India and Myanmar.
BR will convert the entire Dhaka-Chattogram metre gauge railway line to broad gauge by 2027 with funding from the ADB.
The upgradation will allow pressing high-speed broad gauge trains on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route, which will reduce the travel time by about an hour.
BR will implement the transformation of Chattogram-Dohazari meter gauge rail line into dual gauge by June 2028 with Tk 7,085.64 crore credit from the ADB.
On October 31, 2023, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the Development Project Proposal (DPP) for laying the 45 km dual gauge double track from Pahartali to Dohazari.
The ECNEC approved the Tk 10,797.09 crore project to ensure safe, fast and uninterrupted railway communication between the tourist resort Cox's Bazar with Chattogram.
The project include transforming the 45- km track into dual gauge, installing computer based interlocking signal, reconstruction of three station buildings and renovation of 14 station buildings, reconstruction of 20 major bridges and 68 minor bridges, three railway overpasses, procurement of 30 meter gauge diesel electric locomotives.
