India to establish new railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj in Bangladesh

Funds for the project will be disbursed through the EXIM Bank of India….reports Asian Lite News

India and Bangladesh have agreed to establish a new direct rail link from Bogura to Sirajgunj– to be developed under India’s Line of Credit.

To this regard, an agreement between the Bangladesh Railway and the Indian consultant (JV of RITES Ltd. and Aarvee Associates) was signed on Monday, a statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh, said.

It was signed in the presence of Nurul Islam Sujan, Minister of Railways, of the Bangladesh government and Vikram Doraiswami, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

Funds for the project will be disbursed through the EXIM Bank of India.

The signing ceremony, taking place at Rail Bhaban, Dhaka, was chaired by the Secretary (Railway) Mohd. Salim Reza.

Senior officials from the Bangladesh government’s Ministry of Railway, Indian High Commission, Exim Bank of India’s Dhaka Representative Office, RITES Ltd. and Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers and Consultants Pvt. Ltd. were also present on the occasion.

As per the statement, the scope of Consultancy Services includes updating the project feasibility study, detailed engineering design and drawings of all infrastructure including bridges, embankments, railway track, stations, signaling and all other facilities, route alignment, mathematical modeling, tendering services and construction supervision services.

It further added that the physical execution of the project, once finalized, will involve the construction of a dual gauge main line and loop lines from Bogra to Sirajganj, as well as construction of stations, platforms, bridges, an administrative facility, installation of lighting, overhead sign structures, and the laying of track.

It further said that, when completed, this project would establish a shorter Dual Gauge Link between the Western and Northern parts of Bangladesh and the Eastern and Southern parts of the country, via the capital city, Dhaka.

This new railway route will reduce the rail distance by about 112-km, thus saving travel time of about 3-hrs from Dhaka to the northern districts. It will also facilitate seamless operations of Broad Gauge and Meter Gauge trains and provide fast, high quality services to passengers, the statement added.

It further said that as India and Bangladesh celebrate fifty momentous years of a relationship that today transcends strategic partnership, dignitaries present at this event reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship and including through development of modern infrastructure of greater people-to-people connectivity. (India News Network)

ALSO READ: Bangladesh diaspora to hold meet on 1971 Genocide