Already delayed by a decade, the planned double-track railway project from Joydevpur to Ishwardi is likely to face a new implementation challenge as the current interim government is apparently unwilling to approve any high-cost project, insiders said.
Bangladesh Railway, after several revisions, almost finalised preparation to start the implementation work of the Tk 260 billion project, with assurance from the fact-finding mission of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to sign a first tranche financing agreement of Tk 80 billion in March next.
The mission requested the authorities concerned to get revised the development project proposal (RDPP) for the 164-kilometre dual-gauge project by February next with the revised cost as per the updated feasibility study, said officials.
"Under the current circumstances, the BR has a challenge to get approval from the Planning Commission as the present government discourages approval of any high-cost project," said an insider.
The BR initiated the project in 2014 to improve train operations on the country's major northern corridor after getting financing assurance from China.
The project's first feasibility study was done in 2015, estimating the cost at Tk 80 billion, which was later escalated to Tk 142.5 billion in 2018 after revision of the study.
The project was, however, came to a complete halt after China suddenly withdrew its funding assurance in 2018.
Upon BR's request in 2020, JICA finally agreed to update the feasibility study and completed it in 2023 estimating the cost at Tk 180 billion.
Project office sources said the cost of Tk 260 billion has been estimated based on an average inflation of 5.0 per cent.
"After completion of the project's detailed design and contractor selection, actual cost can be ascertained," said a high official at the BR who is engaged with the project.
However, official sources said that at the wrap up meeting with the JICA Mission on October 3, BR has indicated the need for revising the DPP after selection of the contractors as frequent revision of the DPP would not be possible.
The mission requested the BR to revise the DPP by November before the appraisal mission's arrival and get the ECNEC approval by February.
According to the JICA's updated feasibility study and latest development, the BR has planned to construct the project in five packages - two in the western side, two in the eastern side and another for signaling system development from Joydevpur to Ishwardi.
Currently, the BR has a third line from Dhaka to Tongi and two dual-gauge lines from Tongi to Joydebpur. However, the Joydebpur to Ishawardi route has only a single line for trains to commute to and from the northwestern swathe to the capital.
Due to the existing single line, trains often miss schedules in this part.
Project officials said selection of the contractor for the detailed design work is now in the process with a target to start in January and added that the BR has a plan to start the physical work by 2026 as the detailed design work will be finished by December 2025.
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