The government has decided to increase the consultant cost of Padma Bridge Rail Link by Tk 301 Crore 42 Lakh. This cost is increasing as the term of the consultancy firm increases. The Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement has approved the proposal to extend the duration and cost of the consultancy firm.
The meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement was held on Wednesday (May 3) under the chairmanship of Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
After the meeting, Additional Secretary of the Cabinet Division, Syed Mahbub Khan told reporters that the Bangladesh Army in Association with BRTC, BUET, a consulting firm engaged in the 'Padma Bridge Rail Link' project under the Ministry of Railways, has received an additional Tk 301 crore 42 lakh for the variation till May 2024. Cost escalation purchase proposal approved.
He said that as a result of increasing the expenditure, the total expenditure of this sector has increased to 1 thousand 242 crores 27 lakh 76 thousand taka. This cost has been increased due to the extension of the period.
On the other hand, on April 4, the train ran experimentally on the Padma Bridge. The engine of the first train to cross the Padma Bridge was brought from the United States. It was pulled by seven coaches brought from China. The engine and coach left Faridpur at 1:21 PM. Then the first station reaches Bogail near Maligram at 1:41 PM.
The train runs at an average speed of 30 km per hour. Arrived at Shibchar Padma station at 2:10 PM. At 2:40 p.m. Padma got on the bridge. The train takes 16 minutes to cross the Padma Bridge. In all, the train takes about two hours to cover the 42 km railway from Bhanga to Mawa station. Earlier, Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan officially inaugurated the operation of this special experimental train by cutting the ribbon at the broken railway station.
At this time he said, 'The Prime Minister is implementing his dreams one by one. A trial train is running as part of that. Passenger trains will run on the 82 km stretch from Dhaka to Bhanga next September. In June 2024, the train will run from Dhaka to Jessore on the 172 km railway. After the inauguration, Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan crossed the Padma Bridge as the first passenger of the train.
Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Noor-e Alam Chowdhury, Deputy Minister AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, Member of Parliament and Awami Jubo League Presidium Member Mojibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon, Iqbal Hossain Apu MP, Nahim Razzak MP, Sagufta Yasmin Emily MP and Abdus Sobhan were present at the inauguration ceremony. Golap MP They also boarded the train from Bhanga to Mawa station. Major General AKM Rezaul Majid, Chief Coordinator of Padma Bridge Rail Project, Deputy Coordinator Brigadier General Abul Kalam Azad, Project Manager Brigadier General Saeed Ahmed and others were also present at the inauguration ceremony.
On the day of the trial opening, there was an eager crowd on both sides of the Padma Bridge. A flood of joy flows on both sides. Enthusiastic crowds waved and welcomed the train on both sides of the road as it passed. On the occasion of the railway journey, fireworks were set off at Pillar No. 42 at the Jazira end and No. 1 at the Mawa end of Padma Bridge to express joy and happiness.
Those concerned say that the new railway around the Padma Bridge will change the country's rail network. Currently, the distance between Dhaka and Khulna by rail is 460 km. The distance from the capital to Khulna will be reduced by 212 km by traveling to Jessore via Padma Bridge. The Padma bridge rail route is also connecting with the Trans-Asian rail route to connect with China via Myanmar. This is the first railway line made without stone in Bangladesh.
There are three train stations from Jazira End to Bhanga. There are two stations at Shivchar and a junction at Bhanga. Construction of 32 km line over the stations has been completed. Besides, work is going on to modernize the broken junction. Through this project, railway connection with Jessore will be established by crossing four districts (Munshiganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Narail) through the Padma Bridge with Dhaka.
On the day of the trial inauguration, the railway minister came by train from Bhanga and got down at Mawa railway station and told reporters that the progress of the entire project is more than 75 percent. And the entire project is divided into three parts. The progress of the Dhaka to Mawa section is 74 percent, the progress of the Mawa to Bhanga section is 92 percent and the progress from Bhanga to Jessore is 68 percent. However, he expects the passenger train to run on the 82 km section from Dhaka to Bhanga next September.
172 km railway will run from Dhaka to Jessore via Padma Bridge in June next year. 32 railway culverts, 37 underpasses and 13 railway bridges have been completed on this railway without level crossing. Construction of new 14 stations and development of old six stations along with railway stations at both ends of Padma Bridge are in final stage.
JH
