Rail track installation on Padma Bridge begins

Bangladesh Railway (BR) formally started installation of rail track on the lower deck of the Padma Bridge on Saturday, nearly two months after opening of the bridge's road segment, targeting to complete its work in the main bridge by December next.
Though the BR earlier estimated six months to complete the rail track installation work in the two-tier bridge, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon, however, while inaugurating the work said it is now possible to complete the work in four months.
He also said train operation from Dhaka to Jashore through the country's dream bridge Padma Bridge will start after completion of the entire 215 kilometre corridor by June next.
"There might be some infrastructural works pending, but train operation from Dhaka to Jashore can be started from June 2023. Works are being carried out with that target," he said, adding initiative to bring 100 coaches has already been taken, through which six trains can be operated daily on the new route.
The Railways Minister launched the ballast less track work from the first span of the Padma Bridge under Padma Bridge Rail Link (PBRL) at Janjira side viaduct which is first in the country's rail lines.
He also launched the track installation work at Bhanga junction through an automated rail track panel having capacity to place ballasted track in one kilometer in a day.
Chief whip Nur e Alam Chowdhury, Rail Secretary Dr Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Railway Director General Dhirendra Nath Majumder, PBRL project director Afzal Hossian and army officials from the construction supervision consultant were present on the occasion.
The minister said the Bhanga junction will be equipped with total six lines as it is to be connected with other train stations towards the north. But space to set up four more lines has been kept in the station considering the importance to establish link with the southern part including Payra Port and cross border train operation in the future.
The rail track panel has the ability to place a 25 metre track at a time on the ballast, he said adding ballasted track on about 3.5 kilometres from the north-east side of the Bhanga junction has already been completed and track on 28 kilometres needs to be completed to reach up to Mawa site.
The BR has taken the steps to develop total 169 kilometre corridor under the PBRL project to establish rail communication between Dhaka and Jashore through the country's longest road-cum-rail bridge having road on the top and rail on the bottom.
Though the government had a target to operate train through the Padma Bridge simultaneously on the day of road traffic inauguration, it was halted early this year as Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) did not allow doing the track installation work side by side the road bridge work citing technical reasons.
It cited difficulties in doing the rail part's work on the deck where other utility installation works were also then going on.
Finally the Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) project office which is responsible to construct the country's 6.15 km dream bridge under BBA allowed the PBRL project to start work in the rail part on July 15.
The installation work began after a joint survey conducted by both Chinese contractors. BR's contractor China Railway Group Limited meanwhile readied necessary materials and equipment to carry out the main bridge rail track work.
The Tk392.46 billion project will develop the 169 kilometre broad gauge line from Dhaka to Bhanga which will also have 43.22 km loop and siding and 3.0 km double lines totaling the track length of 215 kilometres.
Under the project, 14 new stations will be set up along with upgrading six existing stations and infrastructures.
Besides, 23.38 km viaducts, 1.98 km ramps, 59 major bridges, 272 minor bridges like culvert and underpass and 29 level crossings have been constructed.
When asked about the challenges ahead, he said short supply of ballast and problems in utility shifting at Naranganj part may be challenges for the project.
The minister, however, ruled out the possibility of increasing the project cost amid the global scenario.
Though the track installation at the inaugural side was the project's risky zone, it was found that no safety measure was taken from the project office to avoid the risk of accident on the railway deck.
[email protected]