Deal on Dohazari-Ramu-Coxs Bazar rail link next week
BSS
Bangladesh Railway (BR) is set to sign an agreement next week to construct a rail line connecting Dohazari and Coxs Bazar via Ramu, reports BSS.
The agreement will be signed on Saturday, said Railway Minister Mujibul Haque after witnessing signing of two separate deals on rail sector development at the Rail Bhaban in the capital city. Indonesian Ambassador to Dhaka Rina P Soemarno attended the event.
The government yesterday signed the two agreements, one on appointing the consultant for the Dohazari-Ramu-Coxs Bazar rail project and the other on purchasing 200 passenger carriages for the Railway.
As per the first agreement, three foreign firms from Australia, Canada and France and two from Bangladesh will jointly give consultancy services in the next five years to build the Dohazari-Ramu-Coxs Bazar rail line by 2022.
Under the second agreement, Indonesian railway industry manufacturer, PT Inka, will provide BR with 200 carriages for Tk 579 crore 38 lakh 97 thousand. The carriages for the metre-gauge line will be shipped to Bangladesh in next 33 months.
The government has attached the highest importance to railway sector development for establishing and ensuring a safe and faster communication infrastructure, the minister said.
He said more development projects including circular rail service around the capital city, separate rail bridge on Jamuna River and rail line on Padma Bridge would be implemented in phases.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing financial support to implement rail sector development projects.
The 100-kilometer single-line dual-gauge railway from Chittagongs Dohazari village to Coxs Bazar via Ramu will cut travel time by four hours between Dhaka and the coastal resort city.
The construction of the new route, marked as a fast-track project, will also form part of the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) route to connect Bangladesh to its regional neighbours, including China, Myanmar and Thailand.
