Dhaka: A contract was signed between Bangladesh Railway and a Bangladeshi-Chinese consortium on Thursday to conduct a feasibility study and detailed design for the much-hyped ‘Dhaka-Chattogram via Cumilla-Laksam High Speed Railway Project’.

The contract was signed at Rail Bhaban between the government and the consortium of China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC) and Majumder Enterprise (ME).

Project director Kamrul Ahsan signed the deal on behalf of Bangladesh Railway while CRDC business manager Liu Weichao on behalf of his firm.

Railways Minister Mujibul Haque, Railways Secretary Mofazzel Hossain and Director General Md Amjad Hossain were present at the signing ceremony.

Talking to reporters after the deal signing, Mujibul Haque said the study will be completed within the next 18 months spending Tk 102 crore.

Now, he said, the distance between Dhaka and Chattogram by rail is 321km, but it would come down to 230km after the construction of this rail route, while the travel time will only be between 1.5 to 2 hours, with the train speed being as fast as 200km per hour.

On completion of the study and the detailed plan, the minister said, they will seek budget for implementing the project. ‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured us of providing the fund,’ he added.

About the Padma Bridge Rail Link project, he said the work on the project will start within a month as all the necessary formalities have been completed.