Dhaka:The government has initiated plans to extend the railway network to the Magura and Jhenaidah districts, aiming to enhance regional connectivity, stimulate economic activities, and support passenger and freight transportation in southwestern Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Ministry of Railways has approved a development project proposal (DPP) for a feasibility study on establishing railway connectivity from Magura to the Darsana-Poradah section via Jhenaidah. This study, costing Taka 10.50 crore, will be directed by a project director to be appointed within a month.
The feasibility study will explore a new broad-gauge railway line approximately 70 kilometers long, from Magura to the Darsana-Poradah section via Jhenaidah, with a possible additional 21-kilometer connection from Jhenaidah to Mobarakganj. The study will assess various railway alignments based on technical, economic, financial, environmental, and social criteria.
The proposed railway expansion is part of a broader national plan to incorporate all districts into the railway network. The main project is estimated to cost around Taka 1,017 crore, and land acquisition and other preparations will follow the feasibility study, potentially extending the entire project timeline to five or six years.
The technical scope of the study includes comprehensive assessments of the railway corridor, including topographical, geotechnical, and hydrographic surveys. Consultants will identify and recommend the most suitable route, evaluate traffic demand, economic and financial viability, and environmental and social impacts.
Currently, Magura and parts of Jhenaidah lack direct railway connectivity. The proposed corridor aims to connect these regions with the national railway network through Poradah and Darsana junctions, enhancing links with major cities like Dhaka and Khulna.
The railway expansion is expected to boost local industries and agriculture by providing efficient transportation for goods, benefiting approximately 10 million people with the main extension and an additional five million with the Mobarakganj connection. It also holds potential to bolster cross-border trade via the Darsana border region.
This initiative is part of Bangladesh Railway's phased expansion in the southwestern region, building on the ongoing 19.90-kilometer broad-gauge railway line from Madhukhali to Magura. The corridor is expected to facilitate easier railway journeys to Dhaka and contribute to balanced regional development.