Railway track project works progressing fast in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Aug 3 (BSS): Work on a railway track rehabilitation project is being progressing fast in Rajshahi and Chapainawabgonj districts aiming at bringing dynamism in the railway transportation. The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway has been implementing the Taka 155.47-crore project titled "Rajshahi-Rohanpur Border and Amnura- Chapainawabgonj Railway Track Rehabilitation" setting the target of finishing it by mid October next. Chief Engineer of the zone Rafiqul Islam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had laid foundation stone of the project at Amnura Railway Junction in Chapainawabgonj district in late April last. He said the Rajshahi-Rohanpur border section, established in 1930 and now being adjudged as the Trans-Asian Railway Route, and the Amnura- Chapainawabgonj section had become unfit for train movement due to lack of renovation works for long. After taking power, he said the present government had started implementation works of the long-lasting project as part of its massive development works of the railway sector. Under the project, he said 85-kilometer mainline and seven- kilometer loop line is being rehabilitated in addition to the building repairing of Rajshahi Court, Shitlai, Kakonhat, Amnura and Rohanpur stations side by side with building reconstruction of three stations- Chapainawabgonj, Nizampur and Golabari. Besides, platform of seven stations like Rajshahi Court, Shitlai, Kakonhat, Amnura, Chapainawabgonj, Nachole and Rohanpur is being repaired together with platform rising of Chapainawabgonj, Amnura, Nizampur, Golabari and Rohanpur stations. Side by side with approach road construction of Rajshahi Court, Shitlai, Kakonhat, Nizampur, Chapainawabgonj and Rohanpur stations, seven bridges are being constructed while 25 others being repaired. Some 19 level crossing gates are being maintained and developed while signaling system of six stations being modernized under the project. As a whole, Rafiqul Islam said all the railway lines and other works under the project area are being standardized with the Bangladesh Railway Mainline. On successful completion of the project, he hoped that more high speed trains could run on the route, thereby, carrying of fuel oil to different of the under- construction Power Plants in the region will be easy and quick. Moreover, transportation of various imported goods from India to different parts of the country could be easy and safe which help removing regional disparity, he added. Rafiqul Islam said the track rehabilitation works would be completed by the forthcoming mid October whiles all other scheduled construction and repairing works by June, 2012.