DHAKA, Oct 07, 2024 (BSS) – Bangladesh Railway (BR) plans to start detailed design work from January 2025 for construction of the 162.023km Joydebpur and Ishwardi dual gauge double line with financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“The JICA has given commitment to provide Taka 162 crore in 2023 as loan for consultancy services for detailed design and bid assistance and other related work for construction of the dual gauge double line between Joydebpur and Ishwardi section,” Project Director (PD) Md Golam Mostofa told BSS here today.

He said the detailed design work will start from January 2025 and it will take at least 12 months to complete the work, adding, “After that we can go for tender for construction of the double railway tract in 2026.  BR has taken the project to enhance railway capacity and improve connectivity within the country’s northern region.”

After completing the legworks, the PD hoped to start the physical work by the end of 2026, which will complete within 2028-2029. The consultants will draw the detailed design for the entire Joydebpur-Ishwardi line.

Mostofa said the BR sent the proposal to the JICA on January 15, 2023 and the Japanese development agency approved the proposal on March 9, 2023.

According to the project details, the 162.023km dual gauge double railway line was scheduled to construct under government-to-government initiative between Bangladesh and China. Later, the Chinese side backed out from the project.

The BR even completed negotiations with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the project implementation and the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase in December 2018 approved a Taka 11,586.68 crore proposal for the work. But, China in March 2021 declined to finance, it said.

According to the project details, the government took the project in November 2018 to turn the 162-km Joydebpur-Iswardi section into a dual-gauge, double line to meet the growing demands for rail operations.

Talking to BSS, Director General of BR Sardar Shahadat Ali said after getting negative response from the Chinese part, the Ministry of Railways proposed to JICA for funding the project.

He said following a discussion with JICA, BR has received a positive response from the Japanese development agency and prepared project related work for the line, adding, “Now we need to carry out feasibility study for Joydebpur-Ishwardi double-line project.”
 
According to a notice for invitation of expression of interest (EOI) on March 9, 2023, the consultant will conduct the following tasks: review of feasibility study, investigation and survey, engineering service, bidding assistance, safeguard assistance and others related issues like utility relocation, carryout the technology transfer and organizing overseas training/study tours.

The BR sources said the new double line will be set on the north side of the existing line and the project authorities will have to acquire 56 acres of land for this purpose.

Besides, a dedicated dual-gauge, double-line railway bridge over the River Jamuna is now under construction at a cost of Tk 16,780.95 crore to get the desired benefits of the line, which will link the capital with the country's northwestern part.

The 4.8km dedicated double-line rail bridge is being constructed with a Japanese loan. The construction is going on in full-swing and the project authorities are hopeful about opening it by December 2024.