Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train service to surely boost tourism

Dhaka : The government is set to launch a Dhaka to Cox's Bazar train service at the end of next year. The proposed rail link is surely to boost tourism greatly.
The fresh initiative is expected to further boost tourism to the coastal beach town famous for its long, unbroken stretch of natural sandy sea beach, at the southern tip of Bangladesh.
The installation of rail tracks for the route will be concluded by December 2022, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said.
"Visitors will be able to travel on train direct from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar next year. Although the project term was fixed until June 2022, I'm keeping extra six months in hand," Sujan said.
Two Bangladesh Railway projects are among the ten megaprojects sketched by the government, the minister informed, adding, "One is to install rail tracks from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar."
Once it opens, the railway's expansion in the tourism hotspot of the region will be expanded significantly and at the same time it will contribute to the advancement of the country.
To attract the tourists, railway stations will be decorated lucratively and safety of the commuters will be ensured, Nurul Islam said.
An iconic railway station will be built spending BDT 2.15 billion  in the shape of an oyster where all international standard facilities will be available, he said.
The railway track will stretch to Ghumdum near Myanmar via Ramu, which will later be extended until China, the minister stated.
Project Director (PD) Md Mofijur Rahman said Dohazari-Cox's Bazar-Ghumdum Railway is a mega project of the government which has been categorised among the fast track projects prioritised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"We are working to launch the rail track by 2022 and around 49 per cent work of the project has been completed until January 31 this year," the project director said.
"Currently cutting of soil, constructing bridge, station, culvert, level crossing and an iconic building in Cox's Bazar are all underway," he added.
The project will ease travel to Cox's Bazar, triggering a boost in the socioeconomic condition of the region, he insisted.
BR will provide secure, comfortable and cheap transportation for the commuters. Besides, it will facilitate cheap and easy transportation of fish, raw materials of paper, forest and agricultural products.
The 128-kilometer railway route will have nine railway stations dotting the way, at Satkania, Lohagora, Chakaria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya, and Ghumdum.
All the railway stations will have computer-based interlock signal system and digital telecommunication system.
Moreover, three large bridges will be built over the Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bankhali Rivers, along with 43 small bridges, 201 culverts and 144 level crossings.
Two highway crossings will be constructed in Ramu and Cox's Bazar and a flyover at Kewchiya area of Satkania.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation of the railway project in April 2011, and the budget for the railway project was fixed at BDT 183.5 million
A total of 88 kilometres of rail track will be installed from Dohazari to Ramu, 12 kilometre from Ramu to Cox's Bazar and 28 kilometres from Ramu to Ghumdum.
The beach in Cox's Bazar is the main attraction of the town with an unbroken length of 150 km, also termed as the "longest natural unbroken sea beach" in the world. There are several three to five-star beachside hotels in the popular tourist destination. Other than the beach, there are several other tourist places to visit and plenty of activities to do such as parasailing, water biking, beach biking, horse riding, etc. Tourists can also enjoy a fun-filled ride appreciating scenic views on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive road, with the sea on one side and hills on another.