Bangladesh
Padma Setu Rail Project Construction of Padma Setu rail link to end before scheduled time
Dhaka, March 1: The rail link work on the Padma Bridge was supposed to be completed by 2024. However, the Ministry of Railways expects this work to be completed by next June. This information was given in the report given in the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Railway Ministry held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday.
According to the report, more than 75 percent of the entire project has progressed. Besides, the committee has recommended taking necessary steps to complete Padma Bridge Rail Link Project and other projects in a timely manner.
According to committee sources, the latest progress of the Padma Bridge rail link, the latest status of the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway construction project, the latest status of the Dhirashram container terminal construction at Gazipur, the modernization of the signaling system of Bangladesh Railway and the latest status of the container terminal construction project adjacent to the Chittagong Bay Terminal were discussed in detail in the meeting. During this, the progress report of the Padma Bridge rail connection was presented.
Under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, the implementation cost of the 172 km railway construction project from Dhaka to Jessore has been estimated at Tk 39,246 crore 79 lakh. Bangladesh and China are jointly implementing the project on G-to-G basis. In this case, Bangladesh government is bearing Tk 18,210 crore 10 lakh of the project cost. China will pay Tk 21,036 crore 69 lakh.
Work is underway with the target of laying the entire railway line on the bridge next June. And if that happens, the construction of the railway line will be completed before the scheduled time. The proposed route will connect India through the Petrapole border via Benapole-Jesore-Narail-Bhangamawa to Narayanganj-Dhaka-Tongi-Akhaura-Chittagong-Dohajari-Myanmar's Ghumdhum border.
