Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Zulfiqur Aziz and CEO of EagleRail Container Logistics Mike Wychocki signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides at the Port Bhaban at noon.
Once the project is implemented, the container movement will be increased by 15 percent at the port, said insiders.
There will be no need for any vehicle if containers are transported from the hook point of a ship to the delivery point or from the receiving point to the hook point using the Eaglerail.
Over 5,000 vehicles, including trucks, covered vans and container movers, enter the port every day to transport cargos and containers, triggering traffic jam on the Airport Road and in different areas of the city and affecting the public life, said sources at the Chittagong Port.
Once the ‘EagleRail Overhead Convenience System’ is launched, it will reduce the traffic jam in the city and expedite the supply of goods.
Top officials of EagleRail Container Logistics visited the port twice before the signing of the agreement. They also conducted the feasibility study of the project.
The US company has also supplied this technology to different ports in some developed countries.
The technology works like a cable car. A track is built on a steel frame 40 feet above the ground. While railway trains run above the track, containers hang below the track on Eaglerail. Containers will be released at designated destinations on Eaglerail like a cable car.
Initially, two tracks of Eaglerail will be installed from the NCT yard of the port to the overflow yard. It will be possible to move 300 TU containers per hour using the Eaglerail.
Scott Harper, Sania Irwin, Masud Jamil Khan and M Samayal Hassan were present at the deal signing ceremony on behalf of EagleRail Container Logistics.
Zafar Alam, member (admin and planning); Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury, director (administration); Aminul Islam, chief engineer (mechanical); Habibur Rahman, chief finance and accounts officer; Mahbub Morshed Chowdhury, head of planning; Enamul Karim, director (transport); Mirza Rakibul Islam, assistant chief engineer (mechanical); Habibullah Azim, plant manager; Goutam Baroi, authorised officer; and Azizul Mowla, deputy secretary (coordination); were present on behalf of the Chittagong port.