Dhaka-Chittagong double line dual gauge railway is finally seeing the light after many complications. On Thursday (July 20) morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the project by connecting virtually from Ganobhaban.
Currently, 23 trains run daily on this main railway of the country, but now 72 trains can run as it has been upgraded to double line. It used to take 5 and a half hours to 6 hours before to go on this 321 km long route, but now it will take 4 hours on broad gauge and 4 and a half hours on meter gauge.
The speed can be increased from 60 kmph to 80 kmph on the meter gauge. And in broad gauge trains will run at a speed of 100 to 110 kmph.
Suvarna and Sonar Bangla Express currently provide non-stop service on Dhaka-Chittagong route. The journey of the two trains takes one and a half hours, it will now be reduced to one and a half hours.
Apart from this, even if it takes 6 and a half hours for Mahanagar and Chatla Express, it will be reduced by one and a half hours to 5 hours. As a result, with the reduction of train journeys, the opportunity to travel multiple times with one train has also been created.
Regarding the increase of train movement on this route, the project director said. Subaktgin said that the entire 321 km from Dhaka-Chittagong will be upgraded to two lanes, increasing from 36 pairs to 72 pairs of trains.
If two lines are opened, one train will not have to cross, so the time and cost of transporting passengers and goods will be reduced by increasing the speed of the train. Railways will also benefit.
According to the project information, in 2014, the project was taken up at a cost of 6 thousand 504 crores for the construction of 72 km double line railway up to Akhaura-Laksam. ADB has given a loan of about Tk 5 thousand 477.88 crore in this project.
The work was scheduled to be completed by June 2020 at the latest. But the work of the project was stopped 5 times at different times due to the obstruction of the Indian Border Guard Force BSF. Later the period was extended till June 2023.
However, despite the increase in time, the project cost is reduced by Tk 5,583 crore in the revised DPP (RDPP). According to the project officials, 921 crore rupees are going to decrease.
About the overall situation, project director Subaktgin said that although the main work of the project has been completed, some work on the loop line is still left.
Besides, a proposal has been sent to extend the duration of the project till June 2024 by taking the defect liability of the contractor for one year. However, the cost of the project will not increase even if the duration increases.
Under the project, construction of 144 km main line, construction of 40.60 km loop line, 13 major and 46 minor bridges, construction of 11 station buildings and development of signaling system have been done, said the project director.
