MUNSHIGANJ, Oct 16, 2023 (BSS)-Commercial train movement on the 82-km Dhaka-Bhanga route through Padma Bridge will begin from November 1. The new route is now ready to transport passengers and goods.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the 82-km train service on the route through Padma Bridge on October 10.

The  82-km railway from Dhaka to Bhanga in Faridpur district under the Padma Bridge Rail Link construction project was fulfill the long-cherished dream of the people of southwestern region of the country.  

Another milestone in the country’s infrastructure development while also connecting well the southwestern region of the country, Project Director of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project Md Afzal Hossain said.

Once the rail link becomes fully operational, it will save travel time between Dhaka and Jashore, Khulna and others district by half, help make a major boost to the country's railway connectivity.

The rail link will contribute significantly to the country's economy, as 64 districts of the country will be brought under the railway network in phases, Md Afzal Hossain said.

He said that in the first phase, Sundarban, Benapole and Madhumati express trains is ready for run.  Madhumati express will cross Padma north and go to Rajshahi via Bhanga. Sundarban express will go to Khulna via Padma Bridge and Benapole express will go to Benapole in Jashore via Padma Bridge.

There are 10 stations from Dhaka to Bhanga and the stations have already been modernized.

Meanwhile, the country's largest Bhanga railway station with three floors is being constructed at a cost of Taka 200 crore. This station is a hub consisting of 12 platforms and has all kinds of measures to ensure passenger safety and service. Trains will run through the ground floor of the station building.

Bhanga new railway station has been equipped with state-of-the-art computer based interlink system, which will increase the capacity of the track as well as ensure the safety of train movement.

As a result of the construction of this railway, the journey distance from Dhaka to Khulna will be reduced by about 215-km and the distance between Dhaka and Jashore will  be reduced to 193-km, Md Afzal Hossain added.

The new railway will be connected as a domestic route as well as an inter-country route.

Not only domestic connections, this new railway line will also be used as an international route. With the integration into the Trans-Asian Corridor, the capacity for cargo transportation will increase in future. To utilise the opportunity, the government is building 18 economic zones in the southwest region.

The state-of-the-art railway will create seamless transportation of goods with the country's three sea ports Chittagong, Mongla and Payra and the largest land port Benapole and it will directly connect to Dhaka, Afzal added.

Already 97.5 percent work of Mawa-Bhanga section, 85 percent work of Dhaka-Mawa and 80 percent work of Bhanga-Jashore section has already been completed.

He also said that the work of Bhanga to Jashore railway section is progressing fast and over 85 percent work has been completed.  It is expected that the rest of the work will be completed by June next year.

The railway project has 20 stations. All station work is in the final stage. It is expected that all 10 stations of the Dhaka-Bhanga section will be started on November 1. Passenger services including elevators and escalators work is progressing fast for passenger service.