BR plans overbridges, underpasses

Bangladesh Railway (BR) will have to spend minimum one billion taka for developing road infrastructures between Dhaka and Narayanganj as they find it difficult for them to close unauthorised level crossings.
BR has already taken a move to close five out of 12 unauthorised level crossings on 16.10-kilometre corridor, but it has proposed constructing footbridges and underpasses on the rest of level crossings due to failure to close them.
The authority concerned may have to spend several crores of taka for each of these infrastructures, said a source.
He said BR has no alternative but to construct infrastructures as the corridor is a part of the Padma rail route and it will get an increasing number of trains after inauguration of the rail line.
"It is still hard to close unauthorised level crossings on some important rail routes due to influence by different quarters and unplanned development in nearby areas. So, we have to spend extra money to make the route free from hazards," said another official.
After carrying out a study, it will be finalised how many level crossings will be closed and how many flyovers, footbridges and underpasses will be constructed, he added.
The officials said as the route has 13 more authorised level crossings, a plan was also taken to construct five flyovers, two underpasses and three footbridges there to make the journey smoother.
According to official records, 32 sets of trains carrying at least 40,000 passengers daily run between capital Dhaka and business hub Narayanganj route. At present, trains cannot travel at the speed of over 50 kilometres per hour due to frequent level crossings and single-track meter gauge line.
BR planning section officials said they have taken up project to upgrade Dhaka-Narayanganj track to dual gauge railway parallel to the existing meter gauge line, considering the importance of the corridor.
The development project proposal of Tk 4.0 billion project has already been approved and BR will soon appoint consultants to carry out detailed design and supervision consultant work.
Besides, it has taken a move to construct underground railway from Joydevpur to Narayanganj aiming to establish rail connectivity between two important suburb towns under its 20-year master plan.
Sources said though rail connectivity with Joydevpur has improved, a total of 25 authorised and unauthorised level crossings are the main bottleneck to train operation on Dhaka-Narayangang track with increased speed.
They said BR has also found it hard to improve the corridor having very narrow road width and development of lots of unauthorised structures on both sides of the route Uncontrolled movement of people through the rail track also causes frequent accidents on the route. At least 10 people are crushed under the wheels of trains on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route every year.
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