The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a significant infrastructure project today: the construction of a Tk 11,560.77 crore rail-road bridge over the Karnaphuli River.
The bridge in the Kalurghat area will facilitate uninterrupted transport between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, enhancing both vehicular and rail connectivity in the region.
The project was approved during the 3rd ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year (FY25), chaired by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus at his office in Dhaka. It was one of four projects cleared in the meeting, which collectively have an estimated cost of Tk 24,412.94 crore.
A Much-Needed Replacement for the Aging Kalurghat Bridge
Planning and Education Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, who briefed reporters after the meeting, highlighted the necessity of replacing the old Kalurghat Bridge.
The current bridge is in poor condition, limiting train speeds to just 10 kilometers per hour. This new bridge will not only improve local connectivity but also play a crucial role in advancing Cox’s Bazar as a premier tourist destination, he said.
Dr. Wahiduddin also emphasized that the new bridge would support the growing importance of the Matarbari coal-based power plant and the surrounding economic zone. The project’s completion is targeted for December 2030. Out of the total cost of Tk 11,560.77 crore, Tk 4,435.62 crore will be funded by the government of Bangladesh, while the remaining Tk 7,125.15 crore will be sourced from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and the Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF) of Korea.
Key Infrastructure to Support Regional Growth
Ministry of Railways officials noted that the new bridge would enhance trade and commerce by creating an efficient link with the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line, which is part of a broader plan to connect Bangladesh to the Trans-Asian Railway network, linking with China, India, and Myanmar.
The project will include the construction of a 700-meter bridge, a 6.20-kilometer viaduct, a 2.40-kilometer road viaduct, 4.54 kilometers of embankments, and the installation of 11.44 kilometers of rail track.
The new bridge will also benefit industries located in Chattogram, which handles 70 percent of the country’s imports and exports. Improved transport links will facilitate the movement of goods to and from Chattogram Port, as well as support the region’s export processing zones and special economic zones.
Other Projects Receive Approval
In addition to the rail-road bridge, ECNEC also approved the second revision of the Matarbari Port Development Project, with an increased cost of Tk 6,573.96 crore.
Other approved projects include the second revision of the SASEC Road Connectivity Project-2 (Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur Highway Four Lane Upgradation) with an additional Tk 376.99 crore, and the Resilient Urban and Territorial Development Project (REUTDP), valued at Tk 5,901.22 crore.