Bangladesh Railway will assess rail connectivity across Chattogram port’s existing and upcoming terminals, aiming to move more containers by train and reduce the port’s heavy reliance on roads.
The work falls under the World Bank-funded Green Railway Transport Project Preparation Facility. Around Tk 93 crore has been set aside for preparatory studies and designs, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Terminals in scope
The study covers the General Cargo Berth, Chittagong Container Terminal, conventional jetty areas, Patenga Container Terminal and New Mooring Container Terminal, along with the planned Laldia Container Terminal and Bay Terminal.
The gauge challenge
Older tracks inside the port use metre gauge, which must be reconciled with Bangladesh Railway’s plans for broad-gauge freight. The consultancy will also look at improvements between Faujdarhat and the Chattogram Goods Port Yard, a rail connection to the proposed Bay Terminal and the number of freight locomotives needed.
A separate assessment will examine a rail link between the Mirsharai Economic Zone logistics hub and the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor.
Note that the end-2027 date is for completing the studies, not for opening rail links at every terminal.
Source: Maritime Gateway.
Photo: Sobuz Khan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
