Govt plans to build a railway bridge involving Taka 8,200 crore over Jamuna

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

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Govt plans to build a railway bridge involving Taka 8,200 crore over Jamuna river

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)

DHAKA, Sept 1, 2012 (BSS) - The government has decided to construct a railway bridge involving Taka 8,200 crore over the mighty river Jamuna aimed at meeting the regional traffic growth and improving the flow of goods and passengers.

"We have proposed construction of dual gauge double-track Railway Bridge in the project concept paper (PCP) for completing it by 2017 beside the existing Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge to establish a strategic railway link between the eastern and western parts of the country," officials said.

They said once implemented, the project will ensure lower transport cost and quicker travel time beside meeting the increasing regional traffic growth which will ultimately contribute to the national economy.

"A railway bridge over the mighty river Jamuna is very much required at the moment due to increase in number of passengers and flow of goods," Bangladesh Railway Director General Mohammad Abu Taher told BSS today.

He said the existing railway bridge attached to the Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge could not take heavy load and a small number of trains are running over the bridge with only 15- km speed.

Improving the flow of goods and passengers and connecting infrastructure from one side of the country to the other are imperative to enhance economic activities, Taher said.

Another official of the Railwar Ministry said the railway bridge project will establish link with trans-Asia highway and rail, facilitating movement of goods from Nepal, Bhutan and Northeastern India to and through Bangladesh.

He said the Terms of Reference (ToR) and Feasibility Study of the project have been sent to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) office regulated by the Prime Minister's Office after a decision on 16 May 2012.

Ministry officials said the meeting held at the PPP office on 21 June took decision to send the project to the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) for approval of the project in principle.

Describing the importance of constructing a railway bridge over the Jamuna River communication expert Professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said the government should urgently construct the rail bridge parallel to the Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge due to increasing traffic demand.

Moreover, it will be a cost effective project as it (project) doesn't require river training and land acquisition cost, he said, adding the project is possible to complete within the stipulated time frame.
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[TopCat]

With this money we can make Dhaka-Rajshahi, Dhaka-Khulna, Dhaka-Sylhet 4 lane highways.

Now you people decide which is important? extend all our highways to 4 lane and reduce jam and accident or build a 2nd rail bridge over Jamuna??

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

With this money we can make Dhaka-Rajshahi, Dhaka-Khulna, Dhaka-Sylhet 4 lane highways.

Now you people decide which is important? extend all our highways to 4 lane and reduce jam and accident or build a 2nd rail bridge over Jamuna??

It will be mainly for transit purpose apart for meeting increased demand....

Another official of the Railwar Ministry said the railway bridge project will establish link with trans-Asia highway and rail, facilitating movement of goods from Nepal, Bhutan and Northeastern India to and through Bangladesh.

 

[eastwatch]

I think, rly bridges and improved highways with four lanes, both are important for easing the transportation. The present Jamuna bridge had no provisions for a rly line in the design stage. Only at the late hours of construction a rly track was insisted by the then BNP govt. This shows the ineptitude character of the political people of Bangladesh. Had the rly track been thought over at the design stage, it would have beeen placed at the center. But, it was not to be so. Now, finally the rly track has been placed at one side and on cantilevers. This is very unusual.

From the very beginning the planners were talking of the need of building another parallel rly bridge. Now, since it is in the govt discussion table with allotment of money I have personal endorsement for this rly bridge over the Jamuna.