WZ Railway to go two big new rail line projects******

RAJSHAHI, May 9 (BSS): The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway is going to implement two big new rail line construction projects at an estimated cost of Tk 208.41billion. In addition to construction of 141-kilometer new line, 85- kilometer existing rail line would be rehabilitated under the projects in Rajbari, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Natore and Pabna districts. The projects are construction of 63-kilometer Kasiani- Gopalganj-Tungipara new line, rehabilitation of 85-kilometer Kalukhali-Bhatiapara line and construction of 78.4-kilometer new railway line from Ishwardi to Dhalerchar via Pabna. The West Zone authority revealed this at a contract signing ceremony aiming at receiving consultancy services for the projects at its head office here on Sunday. General Manager of the zone Engineer Amzad Hossain signed the contract on behalf of the Bangladesh Railway while general manager (Transport) of ACE Consultants Ltd Rafiquzzaman, regional manager of SMEC International Pty Ltd Mohiuddin Mahmud and senior vice-president of AArvee Associates Sattayam Chakava signed on behalf of their respective consultancy sides. On the occasion, General Manager Amzad Hossain told the newsmen that 55-kilometer mainline and eight-kilometer loop line would be constructed from Kasiani to Tungipara via Gopalganj at a cost of around Tk 74.5 billion while 80.25-kilometer mainline and five- kilometer loop-line would be rehabilitated by spending Tk 27.62 billion. The project has been designed to construct 55 bridges including an important and four majors, seven stations, eight station-platforms, 12 approach roads and other requisite and relevant infrastructure like level crossing and modern signaling, he added. The new railway line project has provision for acquiring 850 acres of land in Rajbari, Faridpur and Gopalganj districts by spending Tk 4.5 million. In this regard, he said the scheme is likely to complete by 2014 which will establish railway connection between huge people coupled with the Mazar of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara for the first time. On the other hand, the new 78.40-kilometer mainline from Ishwardi to Dhalerchar via Pabna together with 10.87-kilometer loop line would be constructed at an estimated cost of around Tk 98.287 billion in Natore and Pabna districts. The project has been designed for construction of eight stations, 15 major and 31 minor bridges and 74 level crossings and the total land requirement for the project is 1103 acres. On successful implementation of the projects, Engineer Amzad Hossain hoped that a new horizon would be created in the field of railway communication together with passengers and good transportation in the region as it enriched with various natural and economical resources.