CHATTOGRAM May 10: The Chattogram-Coxs Bazar commuter train service has proved profitable. So, the Bangladesh Railway (BR) authority is interested to continue the commuter train service that had been introduced in April 8 as Eid Special train.
Bangladesh Railway sources said the authorities had introduced the Eid Special commuter train service on this route on April 8 to make the Eid journey of the home-goers of this locality easier and comfortable.
The train service was scheduled to be stopped after Eid vacation. But the authorities had extended the schedule twice up to May 20 on demand of passengers.
Bangladesh Railway sources said the single shuttle from Chattogram to Coxs Bazar Eid Special train had earned an income of Tk 50 lakh in 25 days from April 8 to May 5.
For this reason, the authorities have considered the route profitable.
So, they are interested to continue the service which was scheduled to be stopped from May 20.
The authorities are more interested in running train service on the route in two trips in order to double the income.
Sources said the existing Eid special train is running with eight boggies in a single trip.
The authorities are also interested in increasing the number of boggies to 18 for carrying more passengers to make more profit.
Director General of Bangladesh Railway Sarder Shahadat Ali announced the decision while he visited Chattogram recently.
Meanwhile, the first-ever intercity train between Dhaka and Coxs Bazar, the Coxs Bazar Express, started operation on December 1.
The second intercity train Parjatak Express train operating on the Dhaka-Coxs Bazar-Dhaka route began its services from January 10.
Earlier on November 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 102 km railway from Chattograms Dohazari to Coxs Bazar via Ramu.
With the inauguration of the railway station at Coxs Bazar, having the worlds largest sandy beach, has come under the rail connectivity, 133 years after the first initiative was taken during the British period.
Meanwhile, 48km railway line from Chattogram Railway Station to Dohazari had been built in the British period while the construction of the 102km new railway line from Dohazari to Coxs Bazar began in 2018.
Both meter-gauge and broad-gauge trains can run on this dual-gauge single railway line having 9 stations.
The 102km railway includes 88km from Dohazari to Ramu, 14km from Ramu to Coxs Bazar. The nine stations are Dohazari, Satkania, Lohagara, Harbang, Chakaria, Dulahazara, Islamabad (Eidgaon), Ramu, Coxs Bazar Sadar.
It passed through eight upazilas including the Chandanaish, Satkania and Lohagara in Chattogram district and Chakaria, Coxs Bazar Sadar, Ramu and Ukhiya upazila in Coxs Bazar district.
During the projects second phase, the rail line will be extended to the Myanmar border as well as the deep-sea port on Matarbari Island.
The extended part will have two stations Ukhiya and Ghumdhum.
It will have nine computer based interlock signal systems, nine digital
telecommunication systems.
Bridges have been constructed over Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers. Apart from this, there are 43 small bridges, 201 culverts, a flyover in Keuchia area of Satkania, 144 level crossings and two highway crossings in Ramu and Coxs Bazar areas.
