A new direct rail link is going to be established in northern Bangladesh under the Indian government’s Line of Credit (LoC).
In a significant step toward further modernisation of Bangladesh’s railway infrastructure, and to further enhance railway connectivity within the country, the direct rail link from Bogura to Shahid M. Mansur Ali Station, Sirajganj will be developed.
The funds will be disbursed through EXIM Bank of India.
As a first step, an Agreement between Bangladesh Railway and Indian consultant (JV of RITES Ltd. and Aarvee Associates) was signed on Monday in the presence of Md Nurul Islam Sujan, Minister of Railways, and Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.
The signing ceremony took place in Rail Bhaban, Bangladesh Railway, which was Chaired by the Secretary (Railway) Mohd. Salim Reza.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Railway, Govt. of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Railway, High Commission of India, Dhaka, Exim Bank of India’s Dhaka Representative Office, RITES Ltd. and Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd. were also present on the occasion.
The scope of Consultancy Services includes updating the project feasibility study, detailed engineering design and drawings of all infrastructure including bridges, embankments, railway track, stations, signaling and all other facilities, route alignment, mathematical modeling, tendering services and construction supervision services, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
The physical execution of the project, once finalized, will involve the construction of a dual gauge main line and loop lines from Bogra to Sirajganj, as well as construction of stations, platforms, bridges, an administrative facility, installation of lighting, overhead sign structures, and the laying of track.
When completed, this project would establish a shorter Dual Gauge Link between the Western and Northern parts of Bangladesh and the Eastern and Southern parts of the country, via the capital city, Dhaka.
This new railway route will reduce the rail distance by about 112-km, thus saving travel time of about 3-hrs from Dhaka to the northern districts. It will also facilitate seamless operations of Broad Gauge and Meter Gauge trains and provide fast, high quality services to passengers.
“As India – Bangladesh celebrate fifty momentous years of a relationship that today transcends strategic partnership, dignitaries present at this event reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship and including through development of modern infrastructure of greater people-to-people connectivity.”
