Bangabandhu Railway Bridge set to open in January

The under-construction Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge over the River Jamuna is likely to be inaugurated in the last week of December this year or in the first week of January next year.

However, it is not being possible to introduce Computer Based Interlink System (CBIS) from the beginning. As a result, getting full speed that means 120 km speed on the bridge in the beginning remains uncertain.

According to the project officials, due to dilly-dally of the contracting companies and complications in importing technical products from India, the CBIS could not be launched from the beginning at the stations on both sides of the bridge. As a result, the speed of the train will be very low during this time.

The authorities hope that CBIS will be launched by March next year.

Project Director Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman said: “There is a plan to run trains at a speed of 120 km per hour through the new bridge. 98% of work has been done. We are hoping that it can be inaugurated in the last week of December this year or in the first week of January next year.”

Initially budgeted at Tk9,734 crore, the cost of the bridge has since risen to Tk16,780.96 crore following a two-year extension.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has provided a loan covering 72.40% of the project costs, with the remainder financed domestically for the project that was undertaken in 2016.

The bridge is expected to revolutionize rail connectivity between Dhaka and the northern regions, following the transformative impact of the Bangabandhu Bridge on road transportation since 1998.

This state-of-the-art railway bridge is anticipated to increase passenger numbers and enhance freight transportation significantly.

The dual-gauge, double-track bridge involves the construction of 50 pillars—27 on the Tangail side and 23 on the Sirajganj side—by both local and international engineers and workers.

Once completed, the 4.8-kilometer-long bridge would be the largest dedicated railroad bridge in the country. It consists of a 0.05-kilometre viaduct on both sides and 7.667 kilometres of approach roads. Authorities have also attached a gas line to the rail bridge.

The Bangabandhu Bridge, also known as the Jamuna Bridge, inaugurated in 1998, connected Dhaka to the northern and southwestern regions by rail. However, structural issues led to speed restrictions, causing delays and passenger inconveniences.

The construction of the new railway bridge, initiated by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in November 2020, is seen as a crucial step towards improving the country’s rail infrastructure.