Train journey to Cox’s Bazar likely in 2 years

The government wants to connect Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar through a railway network to facilitate the movement of tourists but the crucial project taken in this regard has got stuck in limbo due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officials say.

They hope that a direct railway connection with Cox’s Bazar may change fortunes in the beach town as tourists always want to reach their destinations without hazards for their perfect vacationing.

Once completed, the officials said, the 102-km new dual gauge single railway line from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar will provide “pleasurable and relaxing” journeys for travelers, and this in turn will boost the economy along the railway alignment.

The Tk 18,035-crore project, designated by the government as one of the top 10 priority projects in Bangladesh, is being implemented in two lots.

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is implementing the Lot-2 (Chakaria to Cox’s Bazar) of the project together with Bangladesh joint venture partner MAX Infrastructure Limited, while China Railway Group Ltd (CREC) and Toma Construction JV are implementing Lot-1 (from Dohazari to Chakaria).

“The progress of the project is so far 62 percent,” project director and General Manager Md Mofizur Rahman told UNB over the phone.

He said they have already applied to the relevant department for an extension of deadline till June 2023 for the completion of the project.

Rahman said they have sought a one-year extension for the construction work while another year for defect liability detection.

A defects liability period (DLP) is a set period of time after a construction project has been completed during which a contractor has the right to return to the site to fix the defects. A typical defects liability period lasts for 12 months.

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 and trade, said the Asian Development Bank.

The Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar railway corridor is part of the Trans-Asia Railway network. The project has been endorsed by the SASEC trade facilitation and transport working group meeting held in Tokyo on 26 November 2015.

Three Challenges

While talking to UNB at the construction site of the main station in Cox’s Bazar, Project Manager of Construction of New Dual Gauge Railway Line from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu Lot 2 Chen Yongyi said they are facing three major challenges but confident to successfully complete the project.

He identified land handover as the main challenge since more than 1,000 houses need to be demolished to implement the project and things will hopefully be settled within months.

“It’s (land issue) very complicated,” Yongyi, said, adding that the Bangladesh Railway, DC office, and NGOs are dealing with the issues.

Talking about the second challenge, the CCECC official said they find very low ground and heavy rainfalls during monsoon. “We’ve designed so many level-crossings and culverts but due to the wider constructions many people face some issues.”

He finds the impacts of Covid-19 as the third challenge as this affects both their works and lives. “We’re facing difficulties in having more manpower, and also timely supply of construction materials as we had lockdown issues.”

In April 2016, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar and Ramu to Gundum single line dual gauge track construction project (revised) with Tk 18,034.48 crore in a bid to introduce railway communication in the tourist town of Cox’s Bazar.

Initially, there was an instruction from the government to complete the Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar portion of the railway track project within the next three years of the project commencement.

Yongyi said the initial deadline for completion of the Lot-2 of the project was February 2021 but the latest deadline is January 31, 2023. “We’ve a very strong collaboration and we’re getting stronger with more trained local staff. We’re confident to complete the Lot-2 works within the deadline.”

Saving time, saving money

Responding to a question, he said the project will save almost 50 percent – be it for delivery of goods or passengers’ travel.

Chen Yongyi said currently it is only the roadway after airways, and it always takes longer time to carry goods and passengers’ travel by road. “And trains are always much safer.”