CHITTAGONG, Nov 21, 2017 (BSS) – Construction work of Dohazari-Gumdum rail line is likely to begin next month, which will establish better connectivity between the prime port city Chittagong and beach town Cox’s Bazar.
“The construction work of the 129-kilometre rail line is beginning next month,” Executive Engineer of Bangladesh Railway (BR) Mohammad Mofizur Rahman, also the project director, told BSS.
He said the rail line, which has been marked as a fast-track project by the government, would be completed in 2022.
Rahman said in the first phase, construction works of 101 kilometres rail track, out of 129 kilometres, would begin in December.
“A total of 52 major and 192 minor railway bridges and culverts, 118 level crossings, two underpasses and five overpasses for the movement of elephants would be constructed under the project,” he said.
The project also involves construction of 88 km track from Dohazari to Ramu, 12 km from Ramu to Cox’s Bazar and another 28 km track from Ramu to Gumdum of Nakhyangchhari upazila of Bandarban on Myanmar border.
The 129km-rail-line will go through Chandanaish, Satkania and Lohagara upazilas of Chittagong district, Chakaria, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, and Ukhiya upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district and Gumdum upazila of Bandarban district.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is funding the $1500 million project under its South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Railway Connectivity Investment Programme.