Md. Mofizur Rahman Project Director
Single Line Dual Gauge Railway Track from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu and Ramu
to Gundum near Myanmar Bangladesh Railway

The roads and highways are the min of communication means between today’s Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar that explicitly denies the increasing demand of tourists as well as the businessman. At present there is no railway communication with Cox’s Bazar but it is very important to build a railway linkupto Cox’s Bazar in order to mounting facilities of the tourists. In 1890 the feasibilities of a rail line from Chittagong to Myanmar via Ramu and Cox’s Bazar was surveyed by then Burma railway authority which was brought into consideration. In this respect an inclusive survey operation was carried on by the Burma Railway in 1908-1909. A further survey operation was launched in between 1917 and 1919 for railway transport from Dohazari to Akial via Ramu aiming at founding a railway communication between Chittagong and Akial (Myanmar).

Accordingly a meter Gauge rail line was installed from Chittagong to Dohazari lent was not possible to go ahead for the World wor-ii. In 1958, the then East Bengal Railway carried out a survey for extension of rail line upto Cox”s Bazar from Chittagong south with a view to extending railway link from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar. In 1971 a feasibility study was carried on by Japan railway technical services (JRTS) for justifying the potentiality of a railway traffic line. At the instance of Bangladesh government Japan”s JRTS completed the acts of data collection. In a feasibilities test conducted under the headings “Asian Land Transport infrastructure development (ALTIV)” was held with permission in the economic and social commission for Asia and the pacific (ESCAP) commission held in April 1992 where southern corridor was one of the routes within the meaning of three Euro- Asia link road network.

In 1995 the preliminary study on TAR southern corridor-1 was held by ESCAP. There after the project was approved in the ESCAP meeting held on 6.07.2010 for implementing single line meter gauge track uptoGundum from Ramu near Myanmar and upto Cox’s Bazar from Dohazari via Ramu to be completed from July 2010 to December-2013 at an estimated cost of Tk 1852,35 crores (GOB Tk 670.0 crores and project Grant Tk 1182.28 crores). The implementing procedure of the project lingered for not being ensured over financing from the development supporting organization. In the meeting of ECNEC held on 09.09.2014 a direction was made to build a dual gauge track instead of single line meter gauge track uptoGundum from Ramu near Myanmar and from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu moreover a directive for acquisition of land ensuring required land for building a single line dual gauge track from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu and from Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar on 23.10.2013 at the time of visiting Railway Ministry by the Honorable Prime Minister. This a revised estimated cost of the project was fixed according to the decision of the fact finding mission taken place from 31.01.2016 and 11.02.2016 by the development supporting organization.

Circumstances of undertaking the project and objectives
The project was presented in the meeting including detailed information by the physical infra- structural division of the planning commission at the time of presentation the member, physical infrastructural division made that the project remains included as an unauthorized new project having no budget in ADP for the finance at tear 2010-2011. He said that the highway is the main means of communication Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar at present but there is opportunity of communication system by waterways that not is enough in comparison with the demands of tourists and traders. At present there is railway communication system is developed to go to Cox’s Bazar. In is very important to set up a railway line upto Cox’s Bazar to increase tourist facilities.

Pile construction work is in progress at Bridge no-38.

In 1890 a survey operation was taken place to set up a railway line from Chittagong to Myanmar via Ramu and Cox’s Bazar the Myanmar railway authority he added. In view of that an exclusive survey operation carried on by the Myanmar Railway Authority in 1908-1909. Again a survey operation was taken place from 1917-1919 from Dohazari to Akiab via Ramu with the objectives of setting up a railway communication accordingly a meter gauge rail line was installed from Chittagong to Dohazari. But the construction work of railway line from Cox’s Bazar to Ramu could not be possible to finish due to the World War II. The then East Bengal railway carried out a survey operation in 1958 for extension of the rail line from the south Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar aiming at a railway linkage from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar. In 1971 a feasibility test was operated for justifying the traffic potentiality of the railway line.
The informed the house that at the instance of Bangladesh Government JRTS of Japan conducted the acts of data collection in 1976-77. Southern corridor is one of the routes among the three Euro-Asia linkage route of the Trans Asian Railway (TAR) studied under the project with the heading “Asian land Transport infrastructure development (ALTID)” approved in the ESCAP commission session held in April -1992. In the year 1995an initial study was taken place on the Southern Corridor-1 by the TAR of ESCAP. Bangladesh is link with the TAR network through southern corridor. The Trans Asian link in Bangladesh: TAR Route-1: Gede (west Bengal India)-Dorshana, Ishwardi, Jamtoli ,Joydebpur, Tongi, Akhaura, Chittagong, Dohazari, Gundum, Myanmar (Border station) sub route-1: Tougi,Dhaka sub route-2:Akhaura, Kulaura, Shahbajpur-Mohishwashan (India). TAR route-2: Singabud(WB-India)-Rohonpur, Rajshahi (WB-India)Biral, Dinajpur, Parbotipur, Abdulpur, Ishwardi and then the remaining route/ sub route of route -1 (TAR), on 12.05.2010 the project was revered in the light of a decision taken in the planning commissions PEC meeting.

He further informed the meeting that the economic relation division (ERD) requested South Korea, China and ADB asking financial assistance for the project. IDB gave assurance of financing under some terms and condition ERD expressed hope to get positive response in matters of financing from the government of China. The meeting recommended for kind consideration and moral support for the project including fixing implanting period from July-2010 December 2013 instead of July 2010 to June 2014 and obtaining clearance from the directorate of environment prior to implementation of the project by the physical infrastructure of the planning commission.

Details of objectives of the project are as follows:

•  To build a new single line Dual gauge track that a distance of total of 129.583 KM. from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu 100.831KM and from Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar 28.752 KM.
• To link up with Trans Asian Railway Corridors

The project will be implementing by two phases

•  In the first phase Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu 100.831KM single line dual gauge track contraction
• In the second phase construction of single line dual gauge track from Ramu to Gundumner Myanmr 28.752KM.
•  To bring the tourist city Cox’s Bazar under the Railway network.
• To introduce safe, comfortable, saving and environment friendly communication system for the tourists and local people.

Reinforcement binding of abutment at Bridge No. 96 A2, Ch. 60+205.

Economic and social results impact

•  Transportation of fist salt row goods of rubber produced in Cox’s Bazar and forest based products and agricultural produces by installing rail line.
•  To manifold transport facilities for the local and foreign tourists.
•  The proposed Asian railway corridor will be considered as an important rail network that will work this railway as an important Adam’s bridge in the area of Regional/ sub regional rail communication (silk route – China, Myanmar, Bangladesh).
•  Further local foreign investment will be easier, by which the national progress though gross development index GDI will ease.
•  The whole of Bangladesh will be transformed into Golden gate within south and south East Asia in consolation of its geopolitical and geo-strategies situation by establishing Regional/ sub-regional communication.
•  The importance of investment in Bangladesh as a whole will manifold increase in the intonation arena.
• The renounce income of the total railway system will increase.

Details of the project
Through the instant project a total of 129.583 KM new single line dual gauge track will be built taking 100.831 KM from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu and 28.752 KM from Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar conformed with the 7th five years plan.

The wide range design and feasibilities study of proposed project under this program in technical association of “Technical Assistance for Regional rout transport project preparatory facility” to has been conducted to be implemented financed by ADB .
The infrastructures to be built under this project are given below in brief.

In the first phase of the project
There is a provision of the following construction work in the new single line dual gauge track construction sector of 100.831 kelo meters from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar via Ramu (maui line 100.831KM looped siding 39.205 KM)

•  Construction of 39 major bridge, 145 minor bridge/ culvert 99 level crossing of different classes and 1 one underpass.
•  Correction of overpass for the movement of elephants and introducing thermal imaging camera technology.
•  To found new 09 new stations (Dohazari, Satkania , Lohagora, Harbang, Chakaria, Dulahazra, Islambad, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar) and construction of other infrastructure.
•  Acquisition of land with an over of 1931acres.
•  Rehabilitation of the affected people as a result of acquisition.

Second phase of The Project
Construction of new single line dual gauge track of 28.752 meters from Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar main line 28.382 KM, loop and sighing 3.916 KM, that the following pressers of construction work include

•  Construction of 13 major bridge, 45 minor bridge/ culvert 22 level crossing of different classes and 1 one underpass.
•  Construction of overpass for the movement of elephants and introducing thermal imaging camera technology.
•  Construction of 02 new stations Ukhia and Gundum and other infrastructure.
•  Acquisition of land measuring 350 aeres.
•  Rehabilitation of the affected people resulting in the land acquisition.