The ferry service through the Karnaphuli River between Boalkhali upazila and Chattogram city is back. The service began at Kalurghat on Friday (July 22).
The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has decided to operate the ferry service for renovation work of Kalurghat Bridge. The decision was taken also to reduce the traffic congestion at the bridge and avoid the movement of heavy vehicles through the risky bridge.
In 2008, the ferry service was relaunched on the river in the Kalurghat area for six months for some renovations of the Kalurghat Bridge. After the country's independence, the ferry service was operational multiple times.
As a result of ferry operation, large vehicles are passing through ferry. A notice has been issued for collection of tolls through lease from vehicles crossing at Kalurghat ferry wharf (including supply of lubricants and fuel by the lessee) on Karnaphuli river under Chittagong road division. Tenders and appointment of contractors for these activities are under process.
The railway is renovating the 92-year-old Kalurghat Bridge. This time, 55 crore taka will be spent for the renovation work. Initiatives have been taken to strengthen the bridge before the start of train movement on the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route.
Already, Roads and Highways Department has brought three ferries to Kalurghat area of Karnaphuli River. Approach roads have been constructed on both sides of the bridge.
Pintu Chakma, executive engineer of Roads and Highways Department in Chittagong, said that the Kalurghat Bridge has become dangerous as it is very old. As the bridge is one-way, the traffic has to gain speed on it. There is always a traffic jam. The ferry operation has been relaunched to reduce the suffering of the passengers.
At the time of starting the ferry operation, RHD supervising engineer Mohammad Jahed Hossain, RHD factory division’s executive engineer Sifat Afrin and other officers and employees of the RHD were present.
There are total three ferries for ferry crossing at Kalurghat ferry ghat. It will have two ferries always plying and one ferry standing by.
The toll rate for vehicles crossing the ferry has been. Toll: Trailer Tk 565, Heavy Truck/ Covered Van Tk 450, Medium Truck (with 2 axles) Tk 225, Big Bus (seats 31 or more without driver) Tk 205, Mini Truck Tk 170, Agricultural Vehicle (Power Tiller, Tractor) Tk 135, Minibus/Coaster (carrying 30 passengers) ) Tk 115, Microbus (8-15 passengers) Tk 90, Four wheeler vehicles (Pickups, converted jeeps, wreckers) Tk 90, Cedar cars Rs 55, Autovans and battery powered vehicles Tk 25, Motorcycles Tk 10, Rickshaws/Vans/Bicycles/Bucket Tk 5.
Railway engineers said that the renovation process of the bridge is starting at a cost of 55 crore taka. The contractor has already been appointed. The renovation is being done as per the recommendations of Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET) consulting team.
At present, 10-ton heavy engines move on the Chittagong-Dohazari railway line through the bridge. The maximum speed while crossing the bridge is 10 km/h. However, the weight of the engine going to Cox's Bazar will be 12-15 tons.
The speed of the train will be 80-100 kmph. Earlier, on August 13 in 2004, major renovation work was done on this bridge at a cost of Tk 10 crore. Then another round of reforms was done in 2012.
The engine weight of Cox's Bazar bound train will be 12-15 tons. The maximum train speed is 80-100 km. Due to the current condition of the Kalurghat Bridge, it will not be possible to run the train at this speed. But there are plans to run trains at a speed of 40-50 kmph. For this, the bridge is being renovated as per the advice of BUET's consulting team.
Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar railway project director Mofizur Rahman said that the progress of the project is at the final stage. The work of small and big bridge-culvert on the railway line has also been completed. Now the mechanical work is going on. Two ferries have been kept ready on the Karnaphuli River for the crossing of vehicles.
On April 3 in 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of meter gauge railways up to Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar and Ramu-Ghumdhum. Among them, 88 km from Chittagong's Dohazari to Ramu and 12 km from Ramu to Cox's Bazar.
The construction of the dual gauge and single track railway project started in 2018, almost seven years after the inauguration by the Prime Minister.
The Kalurghat Bridge was built on the Karnaphuli River in 1931. The bridge was built after World War I for direct rail link with Myanmar.