Play store
The government plans to raise the 47-kilometre railway track between Chattogram and Dohazari by five feet after continuous heavy rainfall submerged parts of the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail route, forcing the suspension of train services.
State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid announced the plan on Wednesday after inspecting waterlogged railway tracks in Chattogram’s Sholoshahar area.
Train services on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route remain suspended after floodwaters inundated sections of the railway line, including tracks near Muradpur Sunnia Madrasa and several other parts of the city. On Tuesday, the Tourist Express remained stranded at Sholoshahar Railway Station for nearly eight hours before being returned to Chattogram Railway Station.
“We want to free passengers from this recurring problem,” the state minister said. “The railway track from Chattogram to Dohazari on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route will be raised by five feet. Even during heavy rainfall, the tracks will remain above water, allowing train services to continue uninterrupted.”
He said the project is currently in the tendering process and expressed hope that construction would begin soon.
According to the minister, implementation of the project will end the long-standing suffering of people in the region caused by frequent flooding and service disruptions.
Describing the current situation, Habibur Rashid said he had visited the affected areas, where floodwater in some places had reached knee level. To avoid any major accident, authorities have decided to suspend train operations on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route until conditions improve.
He said train services will remain suspended until floodwaters recede. Passengers who purchased advance tickets will receive refunds in accordance with existing railway regulations. Services will resume once the weather improves and the tracks are declared safe.