More than seven years ago, in April 2014, the government had decided to build a new bridge at Kalurghat in Chattogram through a bilateral cooperation with South Korea.

Since then however, the authorities have not been able to reach a final decision on whether the bridge would be a dedicated single-track rail bridge, a double-track one or a road-slash-rail bridge.

Although the BR had decided to build a single-track rail and road bridge last year, it now depends on a fresh feasibility study -- six years after the first one -- to check whether a double-track-with-road option is technically and economically viable, rail officials said.

The decision to do a fresh feasibility study was taken at a meeting held yesterday at the Rail Bhaban in the presence of Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan.

Top officials of the railways ministry, BR and Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of Korea also took part in the meeting.

Railways ministry, through the Economic Relations Division, will now send a letter to EDCF to carry out the study and it may take six to seven months for the study to be completed, the officials said.

While the authorities have failed to take a decision, the British-era bridge over the Karnaphuli river has become unsafe, and has been so for a while.

Hundreds of vehicles plying the bridge are facing difficulties as the deck and iron fencing on both sides often become worn out and potholes develop on the surface, creating risk of mishaps.

Authorities have to repair the bridge occasionally to keep it passable. The speed limit on the section of road -- from Sholoshahar to Dohazari -- where the bridge is located is just 30km/h.

Around 10 lakh people from Boalkhali upazila, east of Patiya and south of Rangunia upazilas, and from Chandgaon and Mohora areas of the city have no alternative to the bridge for crossing the river.

BR has long been working to replace Kalurghat Bridge, constructed in 1931, initially designated as a railway bridge. Later, in the 60s, it was modified and turned into a rail-cum-road bridge.

Visiting the bridge in October last year, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said the new Kalurghat bridge would be constructed by 2022.

BR is now constructing a rail line to Cox's Bazar from Dohazari in Chattogram, which is expected to be opened next year.

SAGA OF INDECISION

In February 2015, Bangladesh government sought EDCF's technical assistance for carrying out a feasibility study, show BR documents.

The study, published in December that year, recommended building a two-lane road and single-track rail bridge. EDCF in July 2017 issued the funding pledge.

But BR in October 2018 decided they would build a dedicated rail bridge with a double track. In February 2019, EDCF said another funding pledge has to be issued following a fresh study.

Following the review of the previous study, BR in January 2020 announced they would build a two-lane road-cum-double-track bridge.

BR then changed its decision again in October last year. This time, the state-run transport agency said they would build single-track rail and road bridge.

Contacted, the railways minister said they have taken a decision to conduct the fresh study as an earlier study was carried with a 7.6-metre navigation clearance.

Now, as per the requirement of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, the fresh study would be carried out keeping 12.2 metres navigation clearance, he said.

"Although we have already taken the decision to build a two-lane road cum dual-gauge single-track rail bridge, the study would assess whether a dual-gauge double line with road is cost-effective or not," he told The Daily Star last night.

"We will take the final decision following the study," he added.

Meanwhile, railway sources said BR's Director General Dhirendra Nath Mazumder sent a letter to the secretary of the railways ministry recently to communicate their decision to the Korean authority.