An experimental train is going to run from Chittagong’s Dohazari to tourist town Cox’s Bazar on October 15 through the newly constructed railway. For this, a six-coach train has been kept for trial at Patia railway station in Chittagong.
Mofizur Rahman, the outgoing director of the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway project, confirmed the matter on Friday (September 29). Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said that the railway may be inaugurated on October 28.
According to railway sources, the trial train arrived at Chittagong’s Patia railway station on August 6. 60 passengers can sit in each compartment of this six-compartment train.
Project director Mofizur Rahman said that the project will be completed by December 24, although the project will last until June 24 next year. It can be explained in advance to run on a commercial basis.
Anisur Rahman, divisional transport officer of the eastern region of Bangladesh Railway said, after explaining the work of the project, trains will be started on this line on a commercial basis. If this new railway starts, the tourist city of Cox’s Bazar can be reached in just two and a half hours from Chittagong.
The overall progress of the project is 89 percent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway on April 3, 2011, but the work began in 2018. 100 km new railway is being constructed at a cost of 18 thousand 34 crore 47 lakh taka.
Regarding the overall progress of the project, Project Director Mofizur Rahman said that 89 percent of the total project work has already been completed within the 101 km line from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar. About four kilometers of work is left towards the remaining Satkania and Lohagara areas. It will end this month.
Although most of the railway work of the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar project has been completed, the work of the Karnaphuli bridge between Chittagong and Dohazari section is ongoing. As this bridge does not have the capacity to carry heavy engines, renovation work is going on. Purvanchal Railway is working to complete this work by October 31.
