The long-awaited Khulna-Mongla rail link (KMRL) is likely to open by September after completing around 65 kilometres of rail-track placement work and construction of major rail bridges, saving Tk 300 million from the estimated cost.
Official sources said the Bangladesh Railway (BR) has set the target, considering the time needed to complete last-minute work on some bridges that could not be completed by July due to heavy rain.
Although the KMRL project has had its deadline revised five times, the BR has set the latest target of inauguration by July.
Experts say that the inauguration of the broad-gauge rail link connecting the country's second-largest port in Mongla with the rest of the country is likely to have a major impact on the rail network.
After the completion of the Padma Bridge rail link and the Khulna Darshana rail link, freight movement on the corridor will be significantly increased.
The track's importance is also high for regional trade with Nepal and Bhutan, as freight movement through borders utilising the Mongla Port is increasing.
However, sources said the project office took two more months because the design of some small bridges had to be changed after soil was displaced near some bridges, including the Fultola bridge.
Project Director Mohammad Arifuzzaman rejected this claim but said that extra time was needed due to the design review of some five bridges, which required additional work.
However, the PD confirmed that the line between Khulna and Mongla Port will be ready by September.
Meanwhile, the project office has started revising the development project proposal (DPP) for the third time to adjust the funds allotted for different works.
The PD said that the third and final revision of the DPP was necessary to rearrange the funds and reduce the cost by Tk 300 million.
The Khulna-Mongla Rail Link project was first proposed in 2010 under the first Indian Line of Credit (LoC) before a feasibility study was conducted. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project on December 31, 2010.
The project has faced numerous challenges, including a poor feasibility study, the wrong selection of consultants, and design flaws. After construction began in September 2016, the project also faced problems such as the selection of a contractor for the signalling system.
All these challenges led to the project cost being revised to Tk 42.60 billion from the first revision of Tk 38.01 billion. The initial cost of the project was estimated to be Tk 17.21 billion.
Under the project, a 21.11-kilometre loop line, eight stations, the 716-meter Rupsha Rail Bridge and 31 other bridges were constructed.
smunima@yahoo.com