Chattogram -Cox’s Bazar train service to open this year

Staff Reporter :
The Chattogram -Cox’s Bazar train service is going to be commissioned this year considering that 80 percent of the construction work of the Chattogram -Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar-Gumdhum (CDCG) train route has been completed.
It is expected that the new train route will attract both foreign and domestic tourists and boost tourism as visitors will be able to travel by train direct from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar.
Mofizur Rahman, Project Director (PD) of the CDCG, said “We could not complete all work of the project within the previously set deadline of June 2022. So, we have sent a letter to the ministry concerned for extending the time to June 2024.” The construction work of the project will be completed before December 2023, he added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Dohazari- Ramu- Cox’s Bazar and Ramu- Gumdhum railway project in 2011. Dohazari- Ramu- Cox’s Bazar section is under construction but Ramu- Gumdhum project has been stopped because of the objection from Myanmar.
The project involves 100km of dual gauge railway lines with nine stations. These are Satkania, Lohagora, Chakaria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya, and Ghumdum. A total of 183 water crossings, including 39 bridges and 144 culverts, will be constructed along the new alignment.
Besides, underpasses and overpasses are being built for the movement of elephants.
After visiting the project site, it was seen that more than 75 percent of the bridges and about two-third railway tracks so far been completed.
Project officials said that the construction work of the railway building will be completed within April, 2023.
 Once the rail service is launched, it will take half the time to cover the distance from Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar. Likewise, the distance from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar will also be decreased by three hours. In addition, it will reduce the risk of road accidents as well, they added.
Local traders believe that the launching of the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar railway will speed up various economic activities including tourism.
MN Karim, an owner of a reputed hotel in Cox’s Bazar, said that the number of tourists is usually high between November and March. With the introduction of safe transport like railways, the number of tourists will increase even in off-season.
As the number of tourists increases, so will be the sales. Small and medium entrepreneurs will also be benefited. Money transactions will increase as well, he added.
Experts said that the major sectors of Cox’s Bazar’s economy are salt, agricultural products, fish and dried fish. Through train service the transport cost will go down which will propel the local and national economy.
Meanwhile, the CDCG project cost is TK18, 034 crore whereas Tk6,034 crore is being met from domestic sources and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing Tk12,000 crore as credit. Two Chinese firms are implementing the project.