The long-awaited construction of the new Kalurghat Bridge in Chattogram is set to begin soon. Overcoming various complexities and obstacles, the project is finally moving toward implementation. Md. Abul Kalam Chowdhury has been appointed as the Project Director (PD) for the initiative.
The bridge, costing Tk 11,560.77 crore, will feature standard double lines for both road and rail. It will be 60 feet wide and 11 kilometers long, with the main structure spanning 700 meters. The bridge’s height will be 12 meters above the maximum water level during the monsoon, and it will include approximately 5 kilometers of connecting roads on both sides.
The new bridge will be built 70 meters upstream of the existing one, funded by Korea. It will have a 30-foot-wide double line for rail and an additional 30-foot-wide double line for road transport. The design also includes viaducts, embankments, and a new railway line.
The project will be jointly funded by the Bangladesh government and Korea. The government will contribute Tk 4,435.62 crore, while the remaining funds will come from Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF).
Once completed, the bridge will ensure seamless and faster connectivity between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar. It will also create opportunities to link with the Trans-Asian Railway. Currently, the old and dilapidated bridge allows trains to operate at a very slow speed, causing significant delays in passenger and freight transport.
The new bridge is expected to enhance communication with the Chattogram Port and Matarbari Deep Sea Port. This will streamline the country’s import-export activities, making them more efficient. Additionally, transporting goods from export processing zones and industrial factories in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar will become much easier.
Local residents believe the new bridge will alleviate their long-standing issues. The current bridge’s limited capacity results in severe traffic congestion, wasted time, and problems during the monsoon when ferry services are used as an alternative. These challenges are expected to be resolved once the new bridge is constructed.
After finalizing the design and acquiring the necessary land, tenders will be called soon. The construction is expected to be completed by 2030. The new Kalurghat Bridge will open a new chapter in the country’s communication infrastructure.
