The trial run of a train on Dohazari-Cox's Bazar route is expected to be conducted on October 15 as 92 percent work on the railway route has been completed, said the project director. The trial run of the train will be conducted in presence of Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon, Mafizur Rahman, director of Dohazari--Cox's Bazar rail project told UNB on Thursday. The construction work of an iconic rail station, culvert, level crossing and highway crossing is almost finished, he said. The 102 kilometer Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail project is almost finished and now it is ready for train movement, said Mafizur Rahman. “Already all preparations have been taken to conduct a trial run on the route and a locomotive with six bogies will run on the route first. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the rail route at the end of October. Later, the residents of Dhaka will enjoy the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar rail route later,” he said. Read more: After 10 years of delay, Mongla-Khulna rail line likely to open in October According to the project officials, under the project a 102-km new dual gauge single railway line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar has been built at a cost of Tk 18,000 crore. Already an Oyster-shaped international standard railway station has been built in Cox’s Bazar town and seven more stations from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar were built while an overpass was also constructed to facilitate the movement of elephants and other wild animals as the rail line crosses a reserved forest area, said the project director. Besides, the repair work of the 450 meters of the trail tracks which was damaged due to the recent floods was done, he said. Rezaul Karim, president of Cox’s Bazar Tourist Traders Association, said the number of tourists could increase by three times with the launching of the rail route. Zahidul Islam, a resident of Cox’s Bazar, said the residents of the district have been deprived of the train services for long but the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar project will make their dream come true. Read more: Uttara to Motijheel in 38 mins once part of Metro Rail from Agargaon opens on Oct 20 Mohammad Shaheen Imran, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, said the project work is almost finished and if everything remains okay the trail run of train on the rail route will be conducted on October 15. 8 rail stations According to the project officials, there are eight stations along the 102-km railway including at Satkania, Lohagara, Chakaria, Dulahazara, Eidgaon, Ramu and Cox's Bazar Sadar. To facilitate this, three big bridges have been constructed on Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers. Besides, 43 small bridges, 201 culverts and 144 level crossings have been constructed on the railway. A flyover was constructed in Keochia area of Satkania, and two highway crossings in Ramu and Cox's Bazar areas. An overpass of 50 metres and three underpasses were constructed for the movement of elephants and other wildlife. Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train service still a distant reality as project limps along

Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said on Thursday that trains from across the country will soon go to Cox’s Bazar as the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line will be opened to public within June next year. The minister said this while talking to journalists at the station in Cox’s Bazar after visiting the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway project on Thursday. “Rail connection with Cox’s Bazar, which was once a dream is finally on its way to fulfillment. Like the people of Cox’s Bazar, people from all over the country are waiting eagerly to go there by train. I hope that the work of laying down rail tracks will end within the stipulated time,” Sujan said. The minister added that the government has taken up a new project to purchase high quality tourist coaches for the Cox’s Bazar route. Read: Much-loved train journeys to Cox’s Bazar likely in 2 years “We’ll buy a total of 54 coaches with large windows so that people travelling to Cox’s Bazar can enjoy the natural beauty from their seats. About 80  percent work of this project has been completed already,” Sujan added. The minister visited different floors of the railway station being built in Cox’s Bazar. Project officials said that the construction work of the railway building will be completed within April, 2023. Later, Sujan inspected 30 kilometres of rail tracks by an inspection car. As of yet, 60km rail tracks have been laid down. According to project officials, a total of 100km single line and dual gauge rail line is being constructed between Dohazari and Cox’s Bazar. There will be 39 major bridges and 242 culverts in this rail line. Besides, underpasses and overpasses are being built for the movement of elephants. Read: Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train service still a distant reality as project limps along Once established, the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line will connect the region with Trans Asian Railway. The entire nation will come under rail connectivity with Cox’s Bazar, the topmost tourist place of the country. Besides, the rail track will ease the transportation of fish, raw materials of rubber, salt and other agricultural products to and from the coastal district. Member of Parliament Shaimum Sarwar Kamal, Additional Director General (ADG) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) Kamrul Ahsan and Managing Director (MD) of BR (East) Jahangir Hossain, among others, were present during Sujan’s visit.