Conversion of single-gauge into dual-gauge tracks

Over the past two decades, development of the country's railway has remained confined to rhetoric. That the journey by train between Dhaka and Chattogram would take just an hour was hyped for quite sometime. But when railways tracks are single-gauge and dilapidated, the need was to convert those into dual-gauge first. Even though this did not happen, the introduction of quite a few high-speed and inter-city express trains brought some much needed relief for passengers travelling on the route. Now, happily, installation of dual-gauge tracks looks more like a reality.

According to sources, the Planning Commission gave its nod to the project two years ago. But the state-owned builder of railway coaches and the other paraphernalia, and the operator, have yet to complete the development project proposal of Tk 300 billion. As has been reported by this newspaper, the work plan for the dual-gauge line has been divided into two segments: from Tongi to Akhaura in the first phase, and from Laksham to Chattogram in the following phase. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2027. It has been learnt that of the entire 321km Dhaka-Chattogram corridor, BR has just completed a double-line metre-gauge track by opening a 72km section from Akhaura to Laksham lately. The travel time between Dhaka and Chattogram by railway has been reduced by one and half hours after the construction of the double-line passage. As the plan goes, the project cost was estimated at Tk 145.87 billion in order to develop a 97km dual-gauge track on Tongi-Bhairabbazar-Akhaura route. A sum of Tk 156.19 billion was earmarked for developing the 131.56km line from Laksham to Chattogram.

It's hearting to learn that the railway authorities have a target to convert the entire rail network into a broad gauge one by 2024. Thanks to this goal, they are set to stop buying metre-gauge carriages and locomotives after 2025. With the whole project almost set to roll on, sources close to the entire project point out a major glitch. Despite the project's need to meet the BR's plan to convert all railway networks into broad-gauge, some of its problems are unlikely to be solved soon. This development stems from the faulty feasibility study and navigational clearance-related issues. The whole thing centres around a restrictive measure enforced by BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority), when it comes to bridge 'restructuring'. As per its rule, the railway and other bridges cannot be 'developed' without abiding by its vertical navigation limits. A survey by BIWTA found that 85 out of 99 bridges surveyed are blocking smooth river traffic during monsoon, due to the low height of bridges. In a gazette notification issued in 2010 by the Shipping Ministry, it also set other criteria in building bridges. The BR is reported to have contacted the relevant authorities to settle the height problems of bridges.

It has been learnt that a fresh feasibility study will now be conducted to determine the heights for navigation clearance as the earlier one done in 2009 has been found faulty. Many of the country's existing 3,650 railway bridges might have to comply with the set criteria before the BR entering the full-scale dual-gauge era. Those will have to be redesigned for maintenance of the appropriate height.