Oyster-shaped railway station adds tourist attraction to Cox’s Bazar

Oyster-shaped railway station adds tourist attraction to Cox’s Bazar

Cox’s Bazar, Nov 11 – An eye-catching  railway station built in the shape of an oyster stands just three kilometers away from Cox’s Bazar sea beach, which is expected to become also a recreation destination.

The impressive station was also unveiled Saturday as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the much awaited 102-kilometre Chattogram-Cox's Bazar dual-gauge single railway line aiming to link the country’s tourist hub with the port city through the railway connectivity as well.

The  railway station was constructed on a 29-acre land in Hazipara area of Jhilong Union nearby Cox’s Bazar town.

The modern facilities are available in the 182,000-sq feet railway station where a six-storey building and a large oyster fountain were constructed.

Some 90,000 passengers are expected to use the iconic station a day. 

In the station, there are three large spaces for car parking.  The modern facilities which are available in the station include ticket counters and reception centres, shopping mall, restaurants, luggage lockers, child care center, mosque, escalators, ATM booths, residential hotel, post office and tourist information booth.

The luggage locker in the tourist town is an attractive feature as anyone can visit the sea beach or other tourist spots for a day, leaving goods in the station.

Besides, the station is friendly to elderly and disabled persons. It was constructed at a cost of Tk 215 crore.

Alongside the station, the 102-km rail Chattogram (Dohazari)-Cox’s Bazar rail route has eight other stations at Satkania, Lohagara, Chokoria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Ukhiya, and Gumdum.

These stations have fully computer-based interlocking signal systems and a fully digitalised telecommunications network.

In the future, the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar railway line will be connected with the under-construction Matarbari deep sea port.

On April 3 in 2011, Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway, a priority project of her government. - UNB