The long-awaited project to construct a new rail–cum–road bridge over the Karnaphuli River is progressing at a slow pace. According to the Project Director’s Office, it will take more time to begin field-level work as the main project consultant has not yet been appointed. Sources at the Railway Building said that the consultant appointment process is currently underway.
Although tenders for the consultant were invited last March, the final appointment has not yet been made. As per the conditions of the loan agreement, a South Korean consulting firm will be appointed. The Project Director’s Office stated that it may be possible to appoint the Korean consultant in December. Once the consultant is selected, the final design of the bridge will be approved, followed by the tender invitation for construction.
An official at the Railway Building said that once the consultant is appointed, the drawing and design work will be finalized. After that, a Section 7 notice for land acquisition will be issued. Subsequently, the required funds will be deposited into the Deputy Commissioner’s Land Acquisition (LA) fund. Overall, completing the tender process may take until mid-2026. He also mentioned that the project is currently progressing at a very slow pace.
Chief Planning Officer of Bangladesh Railway, Muhammad Kudrat-e-Khuda, said that although tenders were invited in March, the consultant could not be appointed before December. After the appointment, the design will be finalized and the tender process will begin.
It has been learned that Project Director Engineer Muhammad Abul Kalam Chowdhury invited tenders for the consultant appointment on 17 March. The South Korean lending agency sent a list of 22 firms. From that list, bidders were grouped into eight joint ventures. After evaluation, five firms were shortlisted, and one of them has been proposed for final selection. However, the appointment has not yet received final approval.
On 14 May 2024, in a long-awaited moment for the people of Chattogram, Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus unveiled the foundation stone plaque of the rail–cum–road bridge at Kalurghat. Earlier, on 7 October 2024, after the interim government assumed office, the project was approved at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting.
According to primary estimates, the cost of the Kalurghat New Bridge is set at Tk 11,560.77 crore. Of this, South Korea will provide Tk 7,125.15 crore in loans for the main bridge construction, while the Government of Bangladesh will allocate Tk 4,435.62 crore for land acquisition.
The Project Director’s Office stated that the new bridge will be of the extra-dosed type. It will include two dual-gauge railway tracks on one side and a two-lane standard road (each lane 18 feet) on the other side. Additionally, five-foot service lanes and pedestrian facilities will be provided on both sides. The bridge will have a total of seven spans, including five over the river.
According to the project timeline, construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in early 2026, with traffic scheduled to start crossing the bridge by 2030. Engineer Muhammad Abul Kalam Chowdhury was appointed Project Director in February to oversee implementation.
Experts believe that the slow pace of the project may affect the country’s broader infrastructure development. As a key communication link, the new bridge will play an important role in Chattogram’s operations. Locals say the delay in construction will impact the city’s logistics and passenger transport.
Overall, the Kalurghat Rail–Cum–Road Bridge is one of Bangladesh’s most significant infrastructure projects. However, delays in consultant appointment and land acquisition are already affecting the project timeline. If the tender process is not completed by mid-2026, further implementation delays are likely.
PT/ra
