Akhaura–Kulaura–Chhatak line

The Akhaura–Kulaura–Chhatak line is a railway line connecting Akhaura and Chhatak, via Kulaura in Bangladesh. This line is under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Railway.

Akhaura–Kulaura–Chhatak line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Bangladesh Railway
Locale	Bangladesh
Termini	Akhaura Chhatak
Stations	38
History
Opened	Akhaura–Kulaura: 1896–98, Kulaura–Sylhet: 1912–15, Sylhet–Chhatak 1954
Technical
Number of tracks	2/ 1 ?
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ^3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Route map Chhatak Bazar Afzalabad Satpur Halt Khazanchigaon Sylhet Moghlabazar Fenchuganj railway bridge Fenchuganj Maijgaon Bhatera Bazar Baramchal Chokhapon to Mahisasan Bangladesh–India border Shahbazpur Muraul Barlekha Kathaltali Dakshinbhag Dhamai Juri Kulaura Junction Langla Tilagaon Manu Shamshernagar Bhanugach Sreemangal Satgaon Rashidpur Satiajuri Halt Laskarpur Khowai railway bridge Barkota Shakir Mohammod Shotong Bazar Chunarughat Amu Road Asampara Balla Shaistaganj Junction Habiganj Bazar Habiganj Court Dhuliakhal Paikpara Sutang Shahaji Bazar Chatiyan Nowapara Itakhola Teliapara Shahpur Mantola Quashimpur Harashpur Mukundapur Merasani Singerbil Azampur to Tongi–Bhairab–Akhaura line Akhaura Junction to Akhaura–Laksam–Chittagong line Source: Bangladesh Railway Route Map

History

In response to the demands of the Assam tea planters for a railway link to Chittagong port, Assam Bengal Railway started construction of a railway track on the eastern side of Bengal in 1891. A 150 kilometres (93 mi) track between Chittagong and Comilla was opened to traffic in 1895. The Comilla–Akhaura–Kulaura–Badarpur section was opened in 1896–98 and extended to Lumding by 1903.[1][2][3]

The Kulaura-Sylhet section was opened 1912–15, the Shaistaganj-Hobiganj branch line in 1928, the Shaistaganj–Balla branch line in 1928 and the Sylet–Chhatak Bazar line in 1954.[4]

A metre gauge link exists between Shahbajpur in Bangladesh and Mahisasan in India.[5]

Trains

Sylhet railway station

There are several direct trains between Dhaka and Sylhet, such as Parabot, Jointika and Upbon. The one-way journey takes a little over seven hours.[6] There also are trains to Chittagong from Sylhet.[7]

The new railway station at Sylhet was opened in 2004. A.K. Rafique Uddin Ahmed, representing Engineering and Planning Consultants Ltd., was the chief architect of the project.[8]

Nearby places

Madhabkunda waterfall is a 3 km (1.9 mi) rickshaw ride from Dakshinbag railway station. It is also accessible from Sylhet and Srimangal.[7]

Tamabil-Dawki road border-crossing across the Bangladesh–India border is 55 km (34 mi) north of Sylhet.[7]

References

1. Fida, Quazi Abul (2012). "Railway". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
2. Report on the Administration of North East India. Mittal Publications. 1984. p. 46.
3. S.N.Singh; Amarendra Narain; Purnendu Kumar. "Socio Economic and Political Problems of Tea Garden Workers: A Study of Assam, Published 2006, ISBN 81-8324-098-4". p. 105. Mittal Publications, New Delhi. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
4. "Brief History". Bangladesh Railway. Archived from the original on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
5. "Geography – International". IRFCA. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
6. "Nazimgarh Resorts". Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
7. Stuart Butler (2008). Bangladesh. p.150. lonely planet/ Internet Archive. p. 150. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
8. "New Sylhet Railway Station will provide modern amenities". News from Bangladesh, 3 September 2004. Retrieved 16 December 2011.