Akhaura–Laksam–Chittagong line

The Akhaura–Laksam–Chittagong line is a railway line connecting Akhaura and Chittagong, via Laksam in Bangladesh. There are branch lines from Laksam to Chandpur and Noakhali. This line is under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Railway.

Akhaura–Laksam–Chittagong line
আখাউড়া-লাকসাম-চট্টগ্রাম লাইন
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerBangladesh Railway
LocaleBangladesh
TerminiAkhaura
Chittagong
Stations39
History
Opened1895–98
Technical
Number of tracks2/ 1
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge

History

In response to the demand 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-kilometre long (93 mi) track between Chittagong and Comilla was opened to traffic in 1895. The Comilla-Akhaura-Kulaura-Badarpur section was opened in 1896–1898 and finally extended to Lumding in 1903.[1][2][3] On 1 January 1906, Bengal Railway Company was merged with Assam Bengal Railway.

Laksam-Noakhali branch line

The Laksam-Noakhali Line is a railway line connecting Laksam, Comilla and Noakhali. This line is also under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Railway. Laksam - Noakhali section was constructed by Bengal Railway company in 1903.

Construction of a railway track from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar has been initiated. Thereafter, it is proposed to be extended to Gundum on the Bangladesh–Myanmar border for linking with Myanmar Railways as part of Trans-Asian Railway.[4][5][6]

Indian Railways is constructing a 14-kilometre long (8.7 mi) track from Agartala to Akhaura junction through Gangasagar in Bangladesh opposite to Belabor-Gazaria area in south-west Agartala. Agartala is 1,650 km (1,030 mi) from Kolkata via Guwahati, whereas the distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is just about 500 km (310 mi).[7][8]

Developments

Out of the total length of 321 kilometres (199 mi) between Dhaka and Chittagong, only 102 kilometres (63 mi) is double-track and non-contiguous. Efforts are on to make the entire length double-track.[9]

In 2017 an agreement with Chinese contractors was signed to double-track and regauge the railway line to Indian gauge. 2·5bn of the total cost of 3·1bn taka is to be provided as assistance by Chinese government.[10]

Trains

Fifteen trains leave Chittagong railway station every day for different parts of the country: Paharika, Jalalabad and Udayan Express for Sylhet, Sagarika and Meghna for Chandpur, Karnaphuli, Dhaka Mail and Turna Nishita for Dhaka, Godhuli for Dhaka, Nasirabad for Bahadurabad, Dhaka mail for Dhaka, and Paharika and two shuttle trains for Chittagong University.[11] There are some intercity train and Mail/Express train departure from Akhaura to different city. Such as Bijoy Express, Mohanagar Express, Paharika Express, Turna, Udayan Express and Upakul Express. Chattala Express, Chittagong Mail, Comilla Commuter, Dhaka Express, Jalalabad Express, Karnafuli Express, Mymenshing Express, Surma Mail, Sylhet Commuter, Titas Commuter.[12]

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. "Work begins on Bangladesh rail link". Democratic Voice of Burma. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  5. "Railway to link Cox Bazar". The Daily Star. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  6. "Trans-Asian Railway project finally set to take off". The Daily Star. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  7. "Rail Link". The Telegraph. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  8. "India approves new railway link with Bangladesh". Two Circles.net. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  9. "Double Tracking Laksam to Chinki Astana". Dhaka-Chittagong Railway Development Project consulting service. 12 August 2008. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  10. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/double-track-to-chittagong.html
  11. "Poor policing gives rise to robbery in trains". The Daily Star. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  12. "Akhaura Train Schedule". Teletalk News. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
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