http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/09/13/news0188.htm
Bid to connect capital with south, SW regions: Trans-Padma railway scheme underway
BSS, Dhaka
A massive Trans-Padma railway corridor scheme is underway to connect the capital with the south and southwest regions with six subsidiary rail lines, some of them to be new and others to be rehabilitated ones.
Chief Engineer of the Railway Western Zone Ansar Mahmud told BSS that the projects have already been sent to the Railway headquarters for approval. They will cost a total of Taka 10,694 crore, he said explaining their major features.
Projects, once materialised, will open a new chapter of development in the region facilitating people to quickly go to the capital, make transportation of merchandise easier and make movement of cargo to and from Mongla port less time consuming.
New rail lines will be built from the capital to Bhanga through Padma bridge. Rail tracks will also be built from Kashiani of Gopalganj to Tongipara and from Bhanga to Barisal and Khulna under the project.
It also involves rehabilitation of railway from Pachuriya to Faridpur to Pukuriya. A new line will be set up from Pukuriya to Bhanga, besides rehabilitation of old lines from Kalukhali to Bhatiyapara.
New railways up to Barisal and Tongipara will allow people of the region to move quickly to the capital at a less cost and time, he said.
Ansar Mahmud further said the main 80 km new railway corridor line will be set up from the capital to Bhanga crossing the Padma bridge. It includes 46 km broad gauge lines from Gandariya to Mawa and 30 km from the western part of Padma bridge to Bhanga.
Besides this, there will be 4 km dual gauge line from Dhaka to Gandaria, he said. This line up to Bhanga will cost a total of Taka 4,424 crore and need to acquire 1,855 acres of land.
Railway line to be built from Kashiani to Tongipara will cover 55 km distance and rehabilitation of Kalukhali-Bhatiyapara to cover 75 km. Both the projects will cost Taka 1,500 crore and require 850 acres of land.
The major part of the scheme is to build a new 100 km railways from Bhanga to Barisal at a cost of Taka 2,833 crore. It will require 700 acres of land.
Another 53 km railway line to be set up from Khulna to Mongla will cost Taka 684 crore and acquisition of 525 acres of land will be needed. This rail line will allow movement of shipping containers from the port to various destinations.
The railway from Pachuriya to Faridpur covering 25 km of distance and from Faridpur to Pukuriya will cost Taka 80 crore and Taka 170 crore respectively, the railway sources said.
