Akhaura-Laksam-Chittagong Line

 Akhaura-Laksam-Chittagong Line 
Track gauge: Metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in)
Legend
to Tongi-Bhairab-Akhaura Line
to Akhaura-Kulaura-Chhatak Line
Akhaura
Gongasagor
Imambari
Kasba
Mondabag
Shaldanadi
Shahshidal
Rajapur
Shodor
Rasulpur
Comilla
Moynamoti
Lalmai
Alishohor
Rasulpur
to Chandpur, Noakhali
Naon
Nagol Court
Hasanpur
Gunabati
Shorshodi
Feni
Kalidaha
Fajilpur
Muhurigonj
Chinki Astana
Mostan Nagor
Mashorai
Bantakia
Nizampur College
Baroanchla
Sitakunda
Barbokuna
Kumira
Bhatiari
Foujdarhat
Kobolodham
Pahartoli
to Nazir Hat Ghat, Dohazari
Chittagong

Source: Bangladesh Railway Route Map

The Akhaura-Laksam-Chittagong Line is a railway line connecting Akhaura and Chittagong, via Laksam in Bangladesh. This line is under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Railway.

Contents

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 kilometres (93 mi) track between Chittagong and Comilla was opened to traffic in 1895. The Comilla-Akhaura-Kalaura-Badarpur section was opened in 1896-1898 and finally extended to Lumding in 1903.[1][2][3]

Cox Bazar and Gundum links

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]

Agartala link

Indian Railways is constructing a 14 kilometres (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 from Kolkata via Guwahati, whereas the distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is just about 350 km.[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]

Trains

Fifteen trains leave Chittagong Railway Station everyday 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 d and two shuttle trains for Chittagong University .[10]

References

  1. ^ "Railway". Banglapaedia. http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/R_0048.HTM. Retrieved 2011-12-16. 
  2. ^ "Report on the administration of North East India (1921-22)". p. 46. Google Books/ Mttal Publishers Distributors. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=pL_GfLfK3lYC&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46. Retrieved 2011-12-16. 
  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. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=7OsLGZKYP5MC&pg=PA105. Retrieved 2011-12-16. 
  4. ^ "Work begins on Bangladesh rail link". Democratic Voice of Burma. http://www.dvb.no/news/work-begins-on-bangladesh-rail-link/15146. Retrieved 2011-12-23. 
  5. ^ "Railway to link Cox Bazar". The Daily Star, 15 August 2010. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=150796. Retrieved 2011-12-23. 
  6. ^ "Trans-Asian Railway project finally set to take off". The Daily Star, 7 February 2009. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=74779. Retrieved 2011-12-23. 
  7. ^ "Rail Link". The Telegraph, 8 May 2011. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110508/jsp/northeast/story_13954224.jsp. Retrieved 2011-12-23. 
  8. ^ "India approves new railway link with Bangladesh". Two Circles.net. http://twocircles.net/2011sep21/india_approves_new_railway_link_bangladesh.html. Retrieved 2011-12-23. 
  9. ^ "Double Tracking Laksam to Chinki Astana". Dhaka-Chittagong Railway Development Project consulting service, 12 August 2008. http://dcrdp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=152. Retrieved 2011-12-23. 
  10. ^ "Poor policing gives rise to robbery in trains". The Daily Star 6 June 2007. http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/06/d706063502133.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-23.