CA to lay foundation stone of Kalurghat Bridge May 14

CHATTOGRAM, Apr 5: Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus is expected to lay the foundation stone of the much-desired Tk 11,560.77 crore new rail-cum-road bridge project over the River Karnaphuli at Kalurghat on May 14, officials said.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a Tk 115.61 billion new rail-cum-road bridge project on October 7 to ensure smooth and uninterrupted communication between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.

Out of the total project cost, Tk 7,125 crore will come from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF) of Korea.

Bangladesh Railway will build a two-tier road-cum-rail bridge across the River  Karnaphuli at Kalurghat point to replace a rundown old bridge.

Previously, a loan agreement worth about $81.49 million was signed with South Korea's Exim Bank for the construction of the project last year.

The new bridge at Kalurghat will be constructed 70 meters upstream from the existing age-old bridge, and the alignment of the new bridge will be from Jane Ali Hat to Gomdandi Rail Station. The roads and highways division will construct the roads connecting to the bridge.

The existing century-old bridge at Kalurghat, which serves both railway and single-lane vehicular traffic, has long been deemed dilapidated and unsafe. Residents of Boalkhali and parts of Patiya upazila, adjacent to Chattogram, have been demanding a new bridge for years.