The much-awaited train service on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar section will partially open in September, and it is expected to start commercial services by the end of the year. Under the project, the government will promote intermodal facilities for passengers and freight.
The railway authorities and stakeholders believe that the service will draw huge numbers of passengers when launched due to its low cost, ease of travel time, and safe journey.
The minimum price of tickets for the upcoming Dhaka-Cox's Bazar tourist railway has been proposed at Tk700 per person for non-AC coaches and Tk1,500 for AC, which would make it one of the most cost effective ways to travel from the capital directly to the country's south-east coast.The current fare for travelling from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar on a non-AC bus is Tk1,100, and it is Tk2,000 for an AC bus. Airfares on the same route range from Tk4,999 to Tk9,500. The existing train fare for travelling from Dhaka to Chittagong is Tk1,179 for an AC coach and Tk345 for a non-AC coach.
Tickets for travelling from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar on an AC bus range from Tk350 to Tk800, and for a non-AC bus, from Tk250 to Tk300. However, ticket prices for the same route on the tourist railway have been proposed at Tk100 for non-AC coaches, and Tk400 for AC coaches. During a visit to the project site on Monday, Dohazari-Cox's Bazar Rail Line Project Additional Director Abul Kalam Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune: "We are expecting to operate a trial basis service from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar by mid-September."
He added that they were focusing on the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar section of the rail line as railway services from Dhaka to Chittagong already exist.The project official further said the rail line is becoming increasingly important given renovations to the ageing Kalurghat Bridge and the poor condition of over 50km of roads between Dohazari and Chittagong. The renovations to the Kalurghat Bridge may take as long as five years, and the government has opened ferry services to cross the river in the meantime, according to a report by Bangladesh Railway (BR).
The authorities are planning to spend around Tk6O crore to repair the existing bridge and poor roads so that train services on the tourist railway can be partially opened soon. Transport specialists stressed the need to cross the outdated bridge at a low speed to reduce risk. The tourist railway project was approved in 2010, and construction began in 2018. The government allocation was Tk6,034 crore, and the revised project cost Tk18,034 crore.
In September 2016, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) allocated $1.5bn in funding for the project.
According to the project profile, the length of the track is 102km. It will be a dual gauge rail line with nine stations.
The stations will be equipped with relay batteries, generator rooms, sewage and waste management facilities, and energy-saving features such as solar panels. The rail line will also feature separate facilities for women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Tourists can leave their luggage in station lockers while they enjoy their time sightseeing at the beaches and tourist sites. Around 500 tourists will be able to keep their luggage in the station lockers at a time.
A total of 183 water crossings, including 39 bridges and 144 culverts, will be constructed.
The overall progress of the project is currently at 87%, with 84km of track having become visible. Two stations have been completed, and seven are in the final stages of construction.
Initially, 10 trains will run on the route. The travel time from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar will be about seven and a half hours.
The rail line will be extended to the Myanmar border, as well as to the planned deep-sea port on Matarbari Island.
