Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary, back from Padma bridge site

Authorities of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) are likely to start installation of rail track on the Mawa-Bhanga section from July in a major development for the fast-track project being implemented by Bangladesh Railway.

They would be ready to install the rail track on the Padma bridge within October this year and it would take up to six months to complete the work, said officials.

However, before starting the work, Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), which is executing the long-cherished bridge project, has to hand over the bridge to BR’s contractor for the work.

But the BBA may take up to February or March to complete their work before handing over the bridge, and in that case, it would be tough for BR to finish their work within June next year, the new deadline to open the bridge for public, said officials.

Meanwhile, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan yesterday said they are hopeful of starting railway service on the Mawa-Bhanga section, which is a priority section, when the Padma bridge will be opened for public likely in June next year.

The minister and top BR officials, including its Director General Dhirendra Nath Mazumder, and officials of the project and contractor firm, yesterday visited the project site one day after the railway viaduct at the Mawa end was connected with the main Padma bridge after the last span of the viaduct was set up on Monday.

The BR is implementing the project to connect the capital with Jashore with a 169-km rail line over the under-construction Padma bridge at a cost of Tk 39,246 crore.