CHATTOGRAM, Dec 11: At least 20 per cent of the feasibility study for Bangladesh Railway's Dhaka-Chattogram chord line has been completed, according to Project Director Engineer Abidur Rahman. The feasibility study will be completed by December 2025 next, he said.
The appointed consortium of Japan's Oriental Consultant Global, France's EGIS and Malaysia's HSS started the study for the project in February this year, he said.
Bangladesh Railway appointed the consortium to carry out the feasibility study and detailed design for building a new line from Dhaka to Cumilla via Narayanganj on February 14 last.
The construction works of the project is expected to begin in 2026, Bangladesh Railway sources said.
The chord line will reduce the distance between Dhaka and Chattogram by 90 kilometres and travel time by one-and-a-half hours, according to Bangladesh Railway sources.
The consortium will carry out the feasibility studies and prepare detailed designs of the chord line for Tk 193.64 crore. As a result, the study is hoped to be concluded at the end of the next year, sources said.
Meanwhile, construction of a chord line in Dhaka-Chattogram rail route via Narayanganj to Cumilla had been taken in 2010 last. But due to unknown reason, the Bangladesh Railway suddenly stopped the project. The BR had also carried out a feasibility study for the project in 2010. Presently 320 km, the Dhaka-Chattogram rail line, which goes through Tongi-Bhairab-Akhaura-Cumillah-Laksham, is rather drawn-out at present.
Once the new chord line is built, it could be used as a dedicated line for passengers, with the existing line reserved for freight service.
The main station of the proposed chord line will be at Narayanganj with a depot for the rail cars. The other stations will be at Cumilla, Feni, and Chattogram. Rail bridges will be constructed on the Shitalakshya in Narayanganj, the Gomti, the Meghna, and the Feni river enroute.
Railway sources said this rail route will be extended up to Cox's Bazar.
