Construction work of Dhaka-Mawa-Jashore railway line is going on in full swing centering on Padma Railway Bridge. The train will run in 2022 after the completion of this project divided into three parts. Railway authorities say the train will start running ahead of the scheduled time (December 2022).
The Padma Bridge, the multipurpose road-rail bridge across the Padma River, the dream of millions, is changing the communication system of an entire region. Construction of the double-deck Padma Bridge is near to completion. Vehicles will run on the upper deck and trains on the lower deck of the bridge.
A total of 172-km railway line is being constructed centering the bridge. The line will connect nine districts in the south-west of the country. New railway lines are being installed in four districts.
Padma Bridge Rail Link Project Manager Brigadier Ahmed Jamiul Islam told media, “Ballastless track construction work over the viaduct has already been started. At the Mawa end, around 300 meter of rail line installation has been completed. On the other hand some 1.7 kilometers rail line construction has been done at the Zazira end is completed. At present, gas line connection with the main bridge is being continued. After completion of the gas line connection, the rail line installation over the main bridge will be started.”
Construction of railway line from Dhaka-Mawa, Mawa-Bhanga and Bhanga to Jashore is underway in three parts. In Dhaka-Mawa rail route, 41 percent work has been completed. In Mawa-Bhanga rail route, around 70 percent work has already been completed and in Bhanga-Jashore part, some 34 percent work has been done. Although the project is scheduled to be completed by 2024, those involved in the project are optimistic to start the train operation before the scheduled time.
Under this project, there will be 20 railway stations, of which 14 are being rebuilt. The Bhanga railway station will be an iconic one. There will be a total of 331 bridges in the new railway line, according to project details.
China Railway Group Limited is implementing the railway project.
The project cost is Tk 39,246 crore. Bangladesh government is funding Tk 18,210 crore and Chinese government is funding Tk 21,036 crore.
Initially, the bridge will facilitate train communication from Dhaka to Jashore via Mawa. However, in future, the line will be extended to Benapole, which will open the door to rail connectivity with Kolkata in West Bengal, India.
