Direct Trains Blocked by Two-Kilometre Rail Gap

A mere 2.5-kilometre gap in the railway network is preventing direct train services between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar. Presently, all trains travelling along this route are compelled to detour via Chittagong station, where engines must be reversed and tracks changed before continuing to their destinations.

Despite the inauguration of the Cox’s Bazar railway line on 1 December 2023, over three years have passed without construction of the bypass line. Initially planned as a separate project, the bypass has now been merged into the Chittagong–Dohazari dual-gauge railway project, estimated at approximately BDT 10,797.86 crore. Experts caution that this integration could delay the bypass’s completion, although railway authorities maintain that construction of the bypass will commence at the outset of the larger project, minimising delays.

The bypass, spanning from Pahartali to Jhautala in Chittagong, would allow Dhaka-bound trains to use the Pahartali marshalling yard and Ambagan bypass, reaching Cox’s Bazar via Sholoshohor station and the Kalarghat Bridge. This adjustment could save at least one hour of travel time for passengers.

Currently, two trains operate on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route: the Cox’s Bazar Express and the Porjotok Express, with travel times ranging from 8 to 9 hours. Separate trains also operate from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar. Railway statistics indicate the Dhaka–Chittagong–Cox’s Bazar line is the network’s most significant: it carries 32% of passengers and 55% of freight, making it the most profitable route.

The Chittagong–Dohazari line, spanning 52 kilometres, is being converted from metre-gauge to dual-gauge. Though originally slated for completion by June 2028, financial and administrative delays meant work could not start on schedule. The Asian Development Bank has provided USD 688 million in loan support, approximately BDT 8,405 crore, with the Bangladeshi government covering the remainder.

Railway officials emphasise that prioritising the bypass remains essential. Md. Sabuktgin, Chief Engineer of Eastern Railway, stated that the bypass’s construction will be mandatory at the start of the dual-gauge project. The land is already under railway ownership, avoiding potential land acquisition disputes, and the bypass could be operational within two years.

With construction of the bypass imminent, passengers can look forward to more efficient, direct train travel between the country’s capital and its premier tourist destination.