Bangladesh Railway has planned to take 31 projects, mostly for its Western Zone, aiming to popularise its service as a dependable mode of transport through modernisation, reports UNB.
Of the 31 projects, 25 have been planned for the Western Zone while the rest for the Eastern Zone.
The projects for the Western Zone are construction of Jamuna Railway bridge, construction of dual-gauge rail-tracks from Bogra to M Monsur Ali Station in Sirajganj via Raipur, construction of rail tracks from Bhanga Junction (Faridpur) to Paira Port via Barisal, construction of broad gauge tracks from Darshana to Meherpur via Damurhuda and Mujibnagar.
The other projects are construction of a modern workshop in Rajbari, construction of Khulna-Darshana double line, construction of rail tracks of Panchgarh-Banglabandha land port, construction of rail tracks of Chapainawabganj-Sona Masjid land port, construction of Abdullapur Bypass and construction of double line from Iswardi to Joydebpur and Iswardi to Parbatipur.
Rehabilitation of Bonarpara-Kaunia rail tracks, construction of Ishwardi ICD, transformation of Parbatipur-Kawnia rail tracks into dual gauge, construction of carriage construction workshop in Syedpur Workshop and modernisation of signaling system of 20 stations under Ishwardi-Parbatipur section are also among the projects.
Reconstruction of Teesta Rail Bridge, construction of broad-gauge rail tracks from Navaran to Munshiganj, construction of Kustia bypass, construction of tail tracks from Ishwardi bypass to Ishwardi EPZ and Rooppur Nuclear Power plant via Ishwardi, construction of rail tracks to Rampal Power Plant from Khulna-Mongla, construction of rail tracks from chilahati to Chilahati border, construction of rail tracks to Uttara EPZ, construction of rail tracks to Votmari from Domra via Joldhaka and construction of rail tracks to Pangsha from Jessor via Shalikha and Magura are included in the plan.
The projects for Easten Zone are conducting a feasibility study and making a detailed design for construction of Dhaka-Chittagong high speed rail tracks via Comilla/Laksam, construction of rail-cum-road bridge over the Karnaphuli River at Kalurghat point, a feasibility study and detailed design for the construction of simultaneous dual gauge rail track at Joydevpur-Mymensingh section, another feasibility study for the construction of dual gauge rail line of Janalihat Station-CUET-Kaptai, one more feasibility study for the construction of Dhaka-Tongi subway and another feasibility study for construction of circle rail line around Dhaka.
The planned Jamuna Railway bridge proposed to be completed by 2023.
Bangladesh Railway has already conducted a feasibility study with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for undertaking this project. The Railways Ministry has already proposed a draft project to this end, titled ‘Jamuna Railway Bridge Construction Project’, to the Planning Commission. The BR will implement the proposed mega project at an estimated cost of Tk 97.40 billion. Out of the total project cost, Tk 20.16 billion will come from the state exchequer while the rest Tk 77.24 billion as project assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Some 28 trains now ply the Bangabandhu Bridge and the number of trains will be increased in the coming days.
