The cost of Khulna-Darshana double-track rail line, an important project to strengthen regional connectivity, is set to go up by around Tk 20 billion from the initial estimate.
The expenditure is now estimated to be Tk 55 billion as the feasibility study and detailed design of the project were completed in June last, officials said.
Initially, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Khulna-Darshana Section Double Line Construction project on February 28, 2018 with an estimated cost of Tk 35.05 billion.
Officials, however, said the cost estimation may change again at the time of revision of the development project proposal (DPP) which is yet to start, said the officials.
The BR took the project under the second Indian line of credit (LoC) to upgrade its 126.25-kilometre single broad-gauge track to double-line one for both passenger and freight trains.
It is also expected to enhance the connectivity with different important corridors like the recently developed track between Khulna and Mongla Port.
The double line would improve train-movement capacity not only on the Dhaka-Khulna corridor but also Khulna-Chilahati route.
Besides, officials said, the design of the corridor has been done to make Khulna another base of train movement as Dhaka-centric movement has been saturated.
The train connectivity with the neighbouring country has already been established through Chilahati, Benapole, and Darshana, but their optimum utilisation is yet to be achieved, officials said, adding that the double line will also be helpful for connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan.
Project Director Mohammad Monirul Islam Firozi said that changes in the design of the 126.25km track and increase in the loop length to 56km have been proposed considering all future aspects of regional connectivity.
Regarding the cost hike, he said it would be finalised after completion of the revised DPP which will take a few months more.
The BR has now planned to open tender of its three packages - two for track development and one signaling by this month to speed up the process of starting the physical work as the project has already been delayed.
The project tenure ends in 2025 after extending the deadline of 2022 in the DPP without increasing any cost.
As the Indian Exim Bank is set to provide 77 per cent of the project cost, the project office will send the tender document for its concurrence soon, the PD added.
The Khulna-Darshana double line project took time to start as the selection of consultants took time for cancellation of expression of interest two times.
Only one organisation participated in the first EoI called in March 2018, but the second one was cancelled for not getting a nod from the Indian Exim Bank.
Finally the project office selected a joint venture firm comprising two Indian and one Bangladeshi companies, and signed a Tk 873 million contract on August 25, 2022.
They also took time to start the study and detailed engineering design work.
The joint venture comprising STUP Consultant Pvt Ltd India, AARVEE Associates Architects Engineers and Consultants Pvt Ltd of India and Development Design Consultants Ltd of Bangladesh recently submitted the first interim design report in November last.
The study, however, proposed to reduce 90 per cent need for land acquisition from 110 acres shown in Khulna, Jhenidah and Chuadanga districts in the DPP. Number of stations has been proposed to be increased to 23 from the existing 16.
The BR has already opened a 43km new track on Khulna-Mongla corridor developed under the first LoC.
smunima@yahoo.com