Work to kickstart in a month

With Bangladesh Railway yesterday signing contracts with two joint venture companies to connect Cox's Bazar with the rail network, construction work of the much awaited project is expected to start within next month.

Under the contracts, the companies comprising Chinese and local ones will construct the 102-kilometre dual-gauge single line rail track from Dohazari of Chittagong to Cox's Bazar via Ramu in three years.

“Now, they [companies] will mobilise their workforce and hope the work will start within a month,” Amzad Hossain, director general (DG) of Bangladesh Railway, told The Daily Star after the signing ceremony.

Project Director Mofizur Rahman and representatives of CT Joint Venture and CCECC-MAX Join Venture signed contracts at Railway Bhaban in the capital.

CT Joint Venture -- CREC of China and Toma Construction and Company Ltd -- will work for Lot-1, under which they will construct the rail track from Dohazari to Chakaria and the route's signalling and telecommunication systems. Their contract value is Tk 2,687 crore.

CCECC-MAX Joint Venture -- CCECC of China and Max Infrastructure Ltd of Bangladesh -- will work for Lot-2, where they will construct rail track from Chakaria to Cox's Bazar via Ramu and the Cox's Bazar Railway Station. The contract value is around Tk 3,502 crore.

They will build 39 major and 145 minor bridges, nine stations, platforms and sheds among others.

Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque said Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu rail track is the first phase of the Tk 18,034.47 crore project. The second phase -- Ramu to Gundum -- will be built later.

The minister, however, did not say why the crucial part of the project -- constructing track up to Gundum near Myanmar border to link with the planned Trans Asian Railway (TAR) -- has been left out in the first phase.

About the reason, the railway DG said some works including land acquisition have not been completed yet.

Though, it is a three-year contract, the minister requested the companies to complete the work within December next year.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set December 2018 as deadline for the project. We divided the 102-kilometre rail track construction works in two lots to expedite the work. Deploy more manpower and complete the work within the deadline,” he said.

The project is very important, which is why it was included in the list of fast-track initiatives. Once it is completed, it will boost the tourism sector, he added.

He also said the loan agreement with a Chinese company to implement the Padma bridge rail link project will be signed within a few weeks.

A representative of CREC of China also hoped the deal will be signed within the next month.

Mofazzel Hossain, secretary in-charge of the ministry, also spoke at the event.