The
construction work of the remaining 72-km long dual gauge - double rail line on
the Eastern Railway's between Laksam - Akhaura is progressing rapidly. The cost
of implementing the project has been estimated around BD Taka 6,504 crore. The
project work is expected to be completed within June 2020. If the project is
implemented within a certain period of time, the country's railway sector will achieve
unprecedented success. There will be a new episode in railway transportation of
Bangladesh. Passengers will be able to go to Chattogram from Dhaka within three
to four hours.
According to
the Bangladesh Railway, the distance from Dhaka to Chittagong railway is 325 km
via Brahmanbaria. Of these, dual gauge was only 118 km. After the year 2008,
the government took initiatives for up-gradation of the entire Dhaka - Chittagong
railway line into double line. In view of this, 253 km of the railway track has
already been upgraded to dual gauge line. The remaining part was 72 km from
Laksam - Cumilla - Akhaura which is also aiming to upgrade to dual-gauge double
line by next June.
Construction
work is underway at a rapid pace. The project to upgrade the Laksam - Akhaura
Railway into dual gauge was approved on December 2014. The tender was called on
May 2015 for the appointment of a contractor. The contract was signed with the
contractor on June 2016. The Laksam - Akhaura Dual Gauge project is costing BD Tk.
6,504 crore and 55 lac. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is giving a loan of Taka
4,118 crore 14 lac, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is giving Taka 1,359
crore 75 lac and the rest of the amount Tk 1,026 crore 66 lac is being provided
from Bangladesh Government funds.
Under the
Laksham - Akhaura Dual Gauge Railway Project, 144 km dual gauge main line and a
40.60 km loop line will be constructed. Railway sheet of 132 pound will be used
in the main line and 90 pound sheet will be used in the loop line. In addition,
construction of station building and modernization of the signaling system of 11
stations, 13 major and 46 minor bridges will be constructed between this rail line.
Engineer's office of total 68,190 square meters will also be built.
China Railway
Engineering Corporation, Tama Construction and Max Infrastructure (CTM Joint
Venture) are working jointly as contractor for Laksham - Akhaura Railway
development project. Already, about 65 percent of the overall progress of the
Dual gauge work has been completed.
The construction
of the Laksam-Akhaura project began on November 2016. The project is expected
to be implemented by next June. Due to continuous work speed, project
implementation may not be possible within the stipulated time. In this case the
period may need to extend.
Meanwhile,
the construction of the Lakasam - Akhaura Railway's Dual Gauge will be a record
achievement for the Bangladesh Railway. There will be a new chapter in railway
transportation. The Dhaka - Chittagong train journey time will be reduced by 2
to 4 hours. Traveling to Dhaka - Chittagong by train will be possible in just three
and a half hours.
More Inter-city
services will be started with multiple direct trains. Trains can be operated on
this route with higher Excel locomotives. The number of trains will also
increase and the line capacity can be increased from 32 pairs to 72 pairs.
Regional and international freight transport system will be developed. If one
line is closed due to train derailment, the other will run. Number of train
accident will be lower. Above all, the Bangladesh Government's railway sector
is likely to become a profitable institution.
Thanks,
Related:
Subway Rail System in Dhaka City
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