Biggest ever railway project in the country, the construction of high speed rail line on Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route, will start soon, the official sources confirmed. With a view to introducing latest high-tech high-speed railway system in Bangladesh, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working seriously.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the authority concerned to construct the railway on the above mentioned train route, said Bangladesh Railway sources. Sources said the ministry has completed the feasibility study of Dhaka-Chattogram route. The possible estimated cost from Dhaka-Chattogram will be around Tk 97, 000 crore. The cost from Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route is not included. An additional Tk 50,000 will be needed for constructing the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar railway lines.
The consultancy firm, assigned to undertake the feasibility study, has submitted its report to the Bangladesh Railway authorities, an official said. The consultancy firm has fixed four routes for constructing high speed rail line. The first option is 227km ‘Dhaka-Narayanganj-Cumilla-Feni-Chattogram’, second one is 233km ‘Dhaka-Narayanganj-Cumilla-Laksham-Feni-Chattogram’, third one is 222.8km ‘Dhaka-Narayanganj-Baghmara-Feni-Chattogram’ and fourth one is 220.4km ‘Dhaka-Narayanganj-Laksham-Feni-Chattogram’ routes.
The consultancy firm has suggested constructing high speed rail line on the first option 227km ‘Dhaka-Narayanganj-Cumilla-Feni-Chattogram’ route. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved first route for constructing it. The construction of this route would require Tk 96, 752 crore, project director Kamrul Ahsan said.
“The project cost of the Dhaka-Chattogram route can vary either increase or decrease later. We are now working for preparing the detail design of the project,” he added. “After completing the detail design, we will prepare the development project proposal (DPP) of the project then will send it to the planning commission by next year for the approval of the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC),” Kamrul Ahsan said.
Sources said the ministry is now working for searching funds from abroad as it is biggest ever project of the railways ministry. China Railway Design Corporation and Mazumder Enterprise, Bangladesh Consortium, in collaboration, are carrying out the feasibility study and prepare detailed design of the proposed rail line project at a cost of Tk 110 crore.
Sources said there would be needed 668.24 hectres land for constructing the rail line. The ministry of railways will need to acquire 464.2 hectres land for it. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also approved other technical matters of the project. The rail route will be used for carrying only passengers. The speed of the rail will be 300km per hour. Two standard gauge rail lines will be constructed in the route. The rail will be operated through using electricity. ‘Automatic Block’ signaling system will be used in the route.
Passengers will reach Chattogram from Dhaka in only 55 minutes. An estimated, 50, 000 passengers can travel every day through the train service. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first came up with the idea of constructing a high-speed rail link during a visit to the Ministry of Railways on October 24, 2014.
