Khulna-Mongla railway line was inaugurated on November 1, 2023. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it. That’s the beginning, that’s the end. After that, several other railway lines of the country were inaugurated. Trains are also running on those railway lines. But the wheels of the train did not turn on the Khulna-Mongla railway line. After the inauguration, as several works were left, the concerned authorities repeatedly mentioned the month and date for the movement of trains, but nothing was done.
However, the concerned authorities say that all activities have been completed for train movement on the Khulna-Mongla railway line immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr.
According to railway sources, the train ran experimentally from Phultala to Mongla in Khulna on October 30 last year. After the inauguration of the 90 km long Khulna-Mongla railway line on November 1 of that year, the work of setting up the project’s telecommunication and signaling system remained. But that work is over. In March, the authorities said that the wheels of the train were spinning on the railway line. But after the month of March, the first week of April has also passed. Nothing happened.
Meanwhile, several civic leaders and businessmen of Khulna have expressed their anger as the trains did not start running on time. They say, if this line is opened, Mongla port will be more active and import and export of goods will increase. Along with this, the employment of the people of Khulna will also increase.
A railway official, who did not wish to be named, said that although 8 stations have been constructed on this railway, all of them have not yet been provided with furniture and other necessary equipment. No manpower has been deployed at railway stations and railway crossings. Apart from this, the total number of trains will run along with the schedule and fare of the train has not been determined. However, a railway announcement at the beginning of this year said that three pairs of trains will run on this route every day.
Ahmed Hossain Masum, chief engineer of the Khulna-Mongla railway construction project, said that some finishing work was left at the time of inauguration. They have already been completed. However, the recruitment of manpower has not been completed yet. Freight will be prioritized on this route, along with passenger trains.
Khulna-Mongla railway construction project director. Arifuzzaman said that the Khulna-Mongla railway line is now ready for passenger and cargo trains. Preparations are being made to start the train service after Eid.
He said, under the transit facility through this railway line, transportation of goods from Mongla port to neighboring countries India, Nepal and Bhutan will be economical and easy.
A 5.13 km long railway bridge has also been constructed on the Rupsa river on this railway. Vehicle Underpass-VUP (Road Passing Under Railway Line) has been constructed at 9 places. As a result vehicles will not get stuck at railway crossings during train movement due to VUP. Besides, there will be no risk of accidents. He also said that there are 8 stations on this railway.
An official of Mongla Port Authority said, rail connectivity after Padma Bridge is a boon for Mongla Port. Now the goods can be brought to the port by river and road. However, container transport by rail is the most cost-effective mode. Container transportation to Dhaka and northern areas will be easier with Mongla. Import and export goods from Kamalapur ICD and Dhaka will be easily transported in containers to Mongla port. The arrival of ships at Mongla port will increase.
Greater Khulna Development Struggle Coordination Committee President Sheikh Asharof Uz Zaman and Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industries Director Mofidul Islam Tutul said that the Khulna-Mongla rail project has been inaugurated. We hoped that the railway line would be opened soon. If it becomes operational, the business and trade of the region will expand. The economy will grow.
On December 21, 2010, the National Economic Council Executive Committee (ECNEC) meeting approved the Mongla-Khulna railway line construction project. The cost of the project in the first phase is estimated at 1 thousand 721 crores. As the project work was not completed on time, the cost of the first amendment increased to 3 thousand 801 taka. Although the project was supposed to be completed in December 2021, it was not possible.
However, after the second amendment, the time was extended till December 31, 2022. Along with that, the expenditure increased to 4 thousand 260 crore 88 lakh taka. Meanwhile, the Indian contractor Larsen & Toubro has constructed a railway bridge over the Rupsa River. Indian contractor Ircon International did the rest of the work. The work of the project was divided into three parts. These include the construction of a railway bridge over the Rupsa River, the laying of main railway lines and the establishment of telecommunications and signaling.
FA/ASM
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