CHATTOGRAM, July 6: The construction contractor for the upgrade of the 59.5-kilometre-long railway line from Chattogram to Dohazari is expected to be appointed this month (July), Project Director (PD) Engineer Asadul Huq told the Daily Observer.
Previously, a total of 18 tenders, including those from foreign and local companies, were submitted for the appointment of a construction contractor for the project. Of these, seven tenders were submitted for the first phase, from Chattogram to Ghumdandi, and 11 were submitted for the second phase, from Ghumdandi to Dohazari.
This information was confirmed by the PD.
He said the evaluation of these tenders was at the final stage.
In addition, the review of the tenders by the project financier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is expected to be completed this month, the PD said.
Meanwhile, the ADB and the Government of Bangladesh have signed a loan agreement worth US$688 million to upgrade the railway line from Chattogram to Dohazari.
The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation-Chattogram-Dohazari Railway Project will also construct a 2.5-kilometre-long bypass, enabling direct train services from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar without stopping at Chattogram Railway Station.
The project aims to establish seamless connectivity along the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar corridor, significantly boosting regional transport efficiency and economic growth.
It will invigorate economic activities along the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar corridor, particularly boosting the tourism and fisheries industries. As a priority investment, the project aims to unlock underserved areas of the Cox's Bazar region by stimulating investment and trade.
Furthermore, it is expected to strengthen the Bangladesh Railway network, reinforcing the country's capacity to function as a transport and trans-shipment hub in South Asia.
As a component of the Trans-Asia Railway network, the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar corridor currently accommodates 32 per cent of passenger traffic and 55pc of freight traffic, underscoring the importance of enhanced rail infrastructure for economic integration, optimising logistics and driving development in the country's south-eastern region and beyond.
Key project activities include track elevation, improved drainage, modernised signalling, dual-gauge conversion, and the procurement of 30 energy-efficient locomotives to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. It will also strengthen Bangladesh Railway's operational capacity through staff training and upgrade three stations to provide inclusive, user-friendly facilities, as well as spaces for private-sector commercial activities.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific.
Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure and safeguard the planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members, 50 of them from the region.
Currently, the construction of a new broad-gauge rail line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar with financial assistance from the ADB has already been completed, and commercial train services from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar began in December 2023.
The government has also undertaken a project titled 'Conversion of the Existing Chattogram-Dohazari Metre-Gauge Track into a Dual-Gauge Track and Connecting Dohazari to Dhaka', with an estimated cost of Tk 10,797.09 crore.
People concerned said the introduction of a broad-gauge line across the entire eastern region up to Cox's Bazar will remove barriers to the development of the Trans-Asia Railway network, which will connect Bangladesh with China, Pakistan, India and Myanmar.
Besides, Bangladesh Railway is planning to convert the entire Dhaka-Chattogram railway line from metre gauge to broad gauge by 2027, as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given preliminary assurance of financing the project.
Currently, railway lines in the eastern region are metre gauge, while broad-gauge tracks are predominantly in the railway's western region.
The upgrading of the railway line will allow high-speed broad-gauge trains to operate on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route, reducing travel time by about an hour.
Bangladesh Railway will implement the conversion of the Chattogram-Dohazari metre-gauge rail line into a dual-gauge line by June 2028 with a Tk 7,085.64 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The main project components include converting the track into dual gauge, installing computer-based interlocking signalling systems, reconstructing three station buildings and renovating 14 station buildings, reconstructing 20 major bridges and 68 minor bridges, constructing three rail overpasses, and procuring 30 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives.
