A Chittagong :
The construction works of the 72-km Akhaura-Laksam double rail line project in Dhaka- Chittagong route have been progressing fast. Talking with the Daily Observer, Project Director Mozammel Huq came up with the comments recently.
According to tender schedule, the project is estimated to be completed within four years.
“But we have been trying hard to complete it earlier,” he hoped.
Huq also said the construction works of the project has begun in November 2016.
The Bangladesh Railway Ministry has signed the agreement with a joint venture company of China Railway group, Toma Construction and Max Infrastructure (CTM), for this project.
He said the construction works of the project would be completed by December 2018. Besides, the government signed a deal with a consortium of five companies for the consultancy services of the 72-km Akhaura-Laksam Double Rail Line project in Dhaka- Chittagong route. The five companies include Dohwa Engineering Co Ltd (Korea), Korea Rail Network Authority, Oriental Consultants Global Ltd (Japan), Balaji Railroad Systems Ltd (India) and Development Design Consultants Ltd (Bangladesh).
Under the agreement, everything of the project-from design to completion of the construction process-will be supervised by the consortium. A total of 46 bridges and culverts, including 13 big bridges, and 11 B-class rail stations along with computerised signalling systems will be constructed on the 72-km section, he added. The 72-km long Laksham to Akhaura rail line have been doubled with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and European Investment Bank (EIB).
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and European Investment Bank (EIB) have agreed to finance the project. The loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and European Investment Bank (EIB) has already been signed. The sources said, ADB will provide 505 million US dollar and EIB will provide 175 million US Dollar for the project.
With the implementation of the project, the speed of train on the route would be 120 kilometres per hour.
The main objective of this project is to increase the line capacity of railway for efficient train operation and to meet fast growing freight and intercity passenger traffic. The improvement will also result in low operating costs for users and increasing the competitiveness of Bangladesh for investment. Bangladesh Railway has introduced the transportation of containers from Chittagong Port to Kamalapur Inland Container depot since 15 years back.
A large numbers of passengers also travel through this rail route. The lion’s share of income comes from this route.
But this route has been neglected for a long time. If Dhaka-Chittagong rail line is doubled, it will certainly increase the GDP of the country remarkably. The Dhaka bound containers could be transported easily creating manifold opportunities in trade and commerce. With the completion of the Laksham-Akhaura double line, the 320km long Dhaka-Chittagong railway line, one of the most significant rail lines of the country will be doubled. During the past Pakistan regime, 117 km long rail line has been doubled that include, Kamalapur to Tongi and Chittagong to Chinki Astana.
The rest 203 km long rail track in this important rail line remained single for a long time.
The present Awami League government in their previous tenure has taken three projects to double the rail track in this significant rail line.
These projects started to be implemented since 2011 last. The three projects included; 64 km line Tongi and Bhairab Bazar, 61 km long Laksham and Chinki Astana and 7.1 km long Akhaura-Bhairab Bazar totalling of 132 km. Of those projects, 64 km line Tongi and Bhairab Bazar, 61 km long Laksham and Chinki Astana have already been completed.
