Dhaka: The much-awaited double line dual gauge railway bridge over the River Jamuna is set to open in the second week of January 2025. Project Director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge, Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman, announced the completion of the construction works, making it the largest dedicated rail bridge in the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the 4.8 km long bridge was constructed with two packages, WD-1 and WD-2, and involved an investment of Tk. 16,780 crore. The total cost includes Tk. 13,000 crore for construction and over Tk. 3,000 crore for other expenses, with a savings of Tk. 50 crore achieved in the construction of a component. The project received significant financial support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), contributing approximately Tk. 12,000 crore, while the remaining funds were sourced from the Government of Bangladesh.
The dual-gauge double-track bridge, which includes a gas pipeline facility, is positioned around 300 meters upstream
of the Bangabandhu Bridge, which currently supports a single rail line. The project, initiated in 2016, was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in December 2016, with an initial budget of Tk 9,734 crore and a completion target of December 2023. However, physical work commenced in August 2020, with foundation work beginning in March 2021.
The new rail bridge aims to enhance railway communication within Bangladesh and beyond. It will establish a dedicated railway network between the northern regions and the rest of the country, potentially boosting the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The bridge will enhance the capacity of Bangladesh Railway by facilitating the operation of up to 88 trains daily, compared to the current maximum of 22 trains on the single line dual gauge of the Bangabandhu Bridge.
Additionally, Bangladesh Railway has undertaken two projects: one for constructing the rail bridge and another for a dual-gauge double line from Joydebpur to Ishwardi, further
improving the nation’s railway infrastructure.