Inaugural train rolls on PMB rail route today

A new paradigm of development emerges as train service through the Padma Multipurpose Bridge takes off today that will ultimate link the UN-designated Trans-Asian Railway beyond borders of nations.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would attend the inaugural ceremony at Mawa station at 10am and then cross the mighty river by train on the rail route set down the two-tier bridge over the tamed and trained mighty river.
The train traffic is being inaugurated over 15 months after the Prime Minister had inaugurated the country's largest-bridge road traffic on June 25.

Officials have said after unveiling the inaugural plague at the Mawa station and addressing a citizens' gathering there, she would embark on the cross-Padma journey to end at Shibchar station on the other side.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister would head towards Faridpur in a motorcade to attend a public gathering on this occasion to speak on development achievements of her government that faces election in three months.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) earlier completed a trial run of train from Dhaka to Bhanga station in Faridpur on September 7 successfully as it has already completed building 82-kilometre track under Padma Bridge Rail Link (PBRL) project.
Progress of the Tk 392.46-billion megaproject, which was launched in 2016, was recorded 83 per cent till September. Finally, the project will establish 169-km tracks up to frontier-district Jashore from Bhanga station which is also being developed as junction under its second-phase works set for completion by next June.
However, sources said the commercial train operation on the built track from Dhaka to Bhanga could start at the end of October or early November after readying operational systems, including signaling system and staff.
Project Director Afzal Hossain raises hope for starting train operation in a week.
Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujon, while visiting the Mawa site prior to the inauguration, also said train operation would start within a week.
Roads Secretary Dr Humayun Kabir says train operation through the Padma Bridge will definitely benefit cross-border train communications as well as Mongla Port freight transportation on completion of all related project works.
But says one of the two Dhaka-Khulna trains which now take a long route to destinations through the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge will get priority to ply the new route.
"It may take two weeks more to start commercial operation of trains, which is necessary to fix the train fares and ready staff at different stations," the secretary, however, told the FE writer at his office.
He also said the fare chart for train services through the Padma Bridge corridor was under the process of approval and would soon be finalised.
The PBRL project taken to develop 169-km rail tracks on both sides of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge has also developed 23.37-km elevated rail track after Shyampur to enable the passengers to enjoy eye-catching panorama of the riverine deltaic Bangladesh.
It has six stations--Kamalapur, Gandaria, Keraniganj, Nimtola, Srinagar and Mawa stations--from the Padma Bridge's one side, and Padma Station, Shibchar and Bhanga junction on the other side.
The PBRL project was listed as a fast-track project as the present Awami League government planned to inaugurate the train through the Padma bridge simultaneously on the day of road-traffic inauguration. It was also a priority project under the memorandum of understanding signed by Chinese President Xi Jingpin and Bangladesh the Prime Minister during the former's visit to Bangladesh on October 14, 2014.
China Railway Group Limited (CREC) was selected as contractor by the Chinese government after it had signed a loan agreement for Tk 210.37 billion out of the project cost of Tk 392.47 billion in April 2018. The project has brought new technology in the country by setting up 33-km ballast-less track.
Under the project, 14 new stations have been built by modernising six old stations, new signaling system, purchasing 100 broad-gauge coaches to ensure operation of new train services in the southwestern districts from the capital, Dhaka.
The entire 169-km route covers Munshiganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Narail districts to connect Jashore along with Rajbari section through the existing Bhanga-Pachuria track.
Under the project 2426 acres of land was acquired to develop entire new track from Dhaka to Bhanga.
The project was formally inaugurated on October 14, 2018 after ground-breaking ceremony by the Prime Minister.
The Khulna-Mongla rail link, which is to be inaugurated soon, will connect the railway with the new track to create a new horizon in the train communications the introduction of which dates back to the British era.
It is establishing link with the Trans-Asian Railway network that runs beyond borders of Asian nations.
The Railway Secretary also told the FE that taking into account the route importance in freight and container transportation through the Mongla seaport and other borders with India, Nepal and Bhutan, the BR has already made a move to set up inland-container depots at various points, including Nimtola on the Dhaka-Mawa site.

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