Move on to set up Dhaka-Jessore rail network thru Padma bridge
Sunday, 15 February 2015
In an effort to expand rail connectivity in the country's southwestern region, the government is planning to set up a new 190-km rail line from Dhaka to Jessore through the Padma River, reports UNB.
According to officials, the government thinks that the expansion in rail infrastructure will support the country's long-term development agenda and this rail network will meet the expected increase in public transport rider ship in the southwestern region.
Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) Md Amzad Hossain told UNB that the proposed rail line would stretch from Dhaka to Jessore through the Padma Multipurpose Bridge via Mawa of Munshiganj and Bhanga of Faridpur.
He said the feasibility study and design of the new railway track have already been completed as the plan is there to implement the proposed railway project in two phases-first from Dhaka to Bhanga and then from Bhanga to Jessore.
The Railway DG said work for formulating the Development Project Proforma (DPP) for the project is going on.
Asked about the possible financier of this mega project, he said it is not possible right now to reveal the possible financier and the implementation firm, but he hastened to add that the finance might come from China in this regard and the decision to this end is yet to be taken.
Meanwhile, Chinese embassy in Bangladesh wrote a letter to Railway Minister Md Mazibul Hoque on January 18, 2015 expressing the interest of China Railway Group Limited (CREC) for implementing the project.
In the letter obtained by UNB, it is stated that in Bangladesh the CREC is undertaking a project to construct a double line rail track from Tongi to Bhairab Bazar, which is going on smoothly and giving them good experience of working locally in cooperation with Bangladesh partners.
The letter, signed by Economic and Commercial Councillor of Chinese embassy in Bangladesh Wang Zijiang, also mentioned that the Padma Bridge project has been awarded to China Major Bridge Company of CREC Group and things are being mobilised to the satisfaction of the employer.