The long wait for the 100-km new railway track from Dohazari of Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar will come to an end as the trial run of the train will be conducted on November 2.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail line on November 12.
The Assistant Chief Operating Superintendent (East) Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique of Bangladesh Railway on Sunday in a letter requested Chief Mechanical Engineer (East) of Bangladesh Railway, Chattogram to take necessary steps in this regard.
According to the letter, Railways Minister MdNurul Islam Sujan, Members of Parliament, government high ups and eminent civil society members are expected to be present when the train makes the trial run on November 2.
This 100-km new railway line from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar will
ensure a pleasant and comfortable journey. Besides, it will bring a revolutionary change in overall economy and boost tourism in Cox's Bazar.
A direct railway connection with Cox’s Bazar will change fortunes in the beach town as tourists always want to reach their destinations without hazards for their perfect vacation.
Talking to journalists, the railway minister said that the services will run with high-quality coaches for tourists in Cox's Bazar.
The ministry has already purchased the coaches which are designed with wide windows. The Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway line is a priority project of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Chattogram-Cox's Bazar railway line will be connected with the Matarbari deep sea port in the future.
On April 3 in 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway. Travelers will get a chance to enjoy the natural scenario very easily while traveling on the route.
According to the project, there are eight stations along the 100-km railway including at Satkania, Lohagara, Chakaria, Dulahazara, Eidgaon, Ramu and Cox's Bazar Sadar.
To facilitate this, three big bridges have been constructed on Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bashkhali rivers. Besides, 43 small bridges, 201 culverts and 144 level crossings have been constructed on the railway. A flyover has been constructed in Keochia area of Satkania, and two highway crossings in Ramu and Cox's Bazar areas.
An overpass of 50 metres and three underpasses have also been constructed for the movement of elephants and other wildlife.
A spectacular iconic railway station has been constructed on 29 acres of land in the Hajipara area of Jhelongja Union, seven kilometers east-north of Cox's Bazar Sadar.
The station is being designed following a sea oyster. The area of the six-storey station building is 1,82,000 square feet.
Three platforms, each are 650 metres in length and 12 meters wide, are being constructed near the iconic building. At least 46,000 people can travel through this station a day, according to the project director.
Besides, a railway residential area has been built next to it. Eight buildings are nearing completion.
Apart from residential hotels, the station also has facilities like canteen, lockers and car parking. Tourists can leave their luggage in the station lockers and spend the day at the beach.
According to the Asian Development Bank, by connecting the Cox’s Bazar district with Bangladesh’s railway network, the project will not only boost the national economy through further development of the beach town into a major tourist destination, but also facilitate access for the population and products to subregional markets.
The Chittagong-Cox's Bazar railway corridor is part of the Trans-Asia Railway network.
