Trains to run on Padma Bridge from first day: Minister

Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque has said trains will run on the Padma Bridge from the day of its opening.

He said this to journalists at the Gendaria Railway Station, while surveying the feasibility of the Dhaka-Mawa-Padma Birdge and the Janjira-Bhanga rail link on Saturday.

The government said the construction of the six-kilometre bridge would be complete by 2019.

“Railway link would be established between Bhanga (Faridpur) and Mawa (Munshiganj) from the very first day the Padma Bridge is opened,” the minister said.

A 46-km railway link will be established from the Gandaria Station to the bridge via Keraniganj, Nimtala, Sreenagar and Mawa.

On the other side of the bridge, the link to Bhanga via Janjira and Shibchar will be a 31-km stretch.

“The alignment has already been finalised following the prime minister’s approval,” Hoque said.

He said 125 railway bridges would be constructed besides the laying of a total of 82.32 km railway line and 27 km loop line.

Seven new railway stations would be established at Keranjiganj, Nimtala, Sreenagar, Mawa, Janjira, Shibchar and Bhanga in the first phase of the project, he said.

The Gandaria station building and station yard and the Dhaka station yard will be remodelled.

China Railway Group will implement the two-phase project, estimated to cost Tk 259.6 billion.

In the second phase, another eight stations at Bhanga Junciton, Nagarkanda, Muksudpur, Maheshpur, Lohagarha, Narail, Jamdia and Padmabila will be refurbished.

“Some 16.77 km of elevated railway and 2.02 km ramp would be put up after Gandaria to ensure sufficient clearance for water transport in the Buriganga and Dhaleshwari rivers,” he said.

The total length of viaducts in both sides of the bridge would be 23.39 km, he said.

He said a proposal recommended 40 underpasses and three overpass bridges to segregate the railway and roads.

Five level crossings will be built in Dhaka-Gandaria segment.