Tk21,000cr upgrade projects to speed up Cox’s Bazar trains stuck in slow lane

Highlights:

• Dhaka-Cox's Bazar trains run slowly due to old tracks
• Dual-gauge upgrade and Kalurghat bridge projects face delays
• ADB loan for dual-gauge project not yet released
• Kalurghat bridge project stalled; consultant not yet appointed
• Upgrades will reduce travel time and bypass Chattogram station
• Delays risk cost escalation, slower completion, and public resource waste

Bangladesh Railway has yet to make tangible progress on two major projects – track upgrades and construction of a new rail bridge – intended to speed up trains on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route via Chattogram's Dohazari.

Built at over Tk11,000 crore and inaugurated in November 2023, the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail line extended passenger service beyond Chattogram for the first time, but trains still run slowly due to ageing tracks and worn-out bridges.

The two follow-up projects, undertaken over the last two years with a combined estimated cost of nearly Tk21,000 crore, include upgrading the 44km metre-gauge track from Chattogram's Pahartali to Dohazari to dual-gauge, and building a new Kalurghat rail-cum-road bridge.

However, both projects are facing slow progress due to loan agreements and lengthy compliance procedures, according to project officials. 

Bangladesh Railway has not yet been able to start fieldwork, raising concerns over timely completion, cost escalation, and delayed benefits.

Why the upgrades matter

Railway officials say trains travelling from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar must currently enter Chattogram station, reverse direction, and then move towards Dohazari via Sholoshahar – losing more than 30 minutes in the process. The century-old, dilapidated Kalurghat bridge also forces trains to cross at a mere 10 km/h, causing frequent disruptions.

Once the Pahartali–Dohazari section is upgraded to dual gauge, trains arriving from Dhaka and other regions will be able to bypass Chattogram station and head directly to Dohazari and Cox's Bazar. The railway also plans to extend services from other regional routes toward Cox's Bazar.

Engineer Subhash Barua, a transport expert and vice president of Forum for Planned Chattogram, told TBS, "Both the dual-gauge upgrade and the Kalurghat bridge are essential for unlocking the full potential of the Cox's Bazar line. However, past experience shows that slow implementation usually leads to time and cost overruns, resulting in wastage of public resources. These two projects face the same risks."

Dual-gauge upgrade project awaits ADB loan

Approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in October 2023, the Tk10,797 crore dual-gauge project is scheduled to run until June 2028. Of the total cost, Tk3,711 crore is to come from the government and Tk7,086 crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). But despite Ecnec approval, ADB funds have yet to be released, leaving project progress below 10%.

Under this project, the railway will convert 29.32km of the main line from Pahartali to Dohazari to dual gauge, develop a 5.5km dual-gauge double-track bypass between Pahartali and Jhautala, and convert additional loops and sidings of over 10km on the 44 km corridor.

Five stations – Pahartali, Sholoshahar, Patiya, Kanchannagar and Dohazari – will receive computer-based interlocking signalling systems. Pahartali, Sholoshahar, and Jhautala stations will be rebuilt, while 14 more stations will be renovated. The project also includes reconstructing 20 major and 68 minor bridges, building three rail overpasses, and procuring 30 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives.

Project Director and Eastern Zone Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Railway, Md Tanvirul Islam, told TBS, "ADB has not yet signed the loan agreement. We have floated the tender, with submissions due on 24 November. After tender evaluation and reporting, the loan signing process will begin. Cost escalation is expected if delays persist."

Bridge project stuck at consultant appointment stage

The Tk11,560.70 crore project to build a new rail-cum-road bridge over the Karnaphuli River at Kalurghat – approved by Ecnec on 7 October 2024 – faces similar delays. The foundation stone was laid on 14 May this year by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, yet no consultant has been appointed to prepare the bridge's design and drawings.

The project has a December 2030 deadline. Of the total cost, Tk4,435.62 crore will come from the government, while Tk7,125.15 crore will come from South Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and the Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF).

According to the Ministry of Railways, the new bridge is essential for seamless rail connectivity between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, and will facilitate integration with the Trans-Asian Railway network. 

The ageing Kalurghat bridge restricts trains to 10 km/h, and accidents are common. With the Dohazari–Cox's Bazar line now operational, demand for improved connectivity in the region – including for industries in nearby economic zones and the upcoming Matarbari deep seaport – is rising rapidly.

Project components include a 700-metre rail-cum-road bridge, 6.20km of viaduct, 2.40km of road viaduct, 4.54km of embankment, 11.44km of rail track, and various ancillary works. The extra-dosed bridge will house two dual-gauge rail tracks on one side and a two-lane road with footpaths and service lanes on the other. The structure will include seven spans, five of them in the river.

Project Director Engineer Abul Kalam Chowdhury said, "Korean financing comes with strict approval requirements at each stage. We have submitted a shortlist of five consulting firms. Once approved, we can move to appoint the consultant. If all goes well, land acquisition will begin around April-May next year."