Khulna–Mongla Port line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerBangladesh Railway
LocaleBangladesh
Termini
Stations6
Service
TypeRailway line
History
Opened1 November 2023
Technical
Line length65 km (40 mi)
Track gaugeBroad-gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map

Phultala Junction
Arranghata
Mohammad Nagar
Old Pashur River
Katakhali
Chulkati Bazar
Bhaga
Digraj
Mongla Port Yard
Mongla
Source: Bangladesh
Railway Map

Khulna–Mongla Port line is a 65-kilometre long (40 mi)under-construction broad gauge railway to connect the country with Mongla Port. The Rupsha Rail Bridge is located on this route.

History

In 2010, the government planned to build a railway from Khulna to Mongla Port. A budget of ৳1,721 crore was fixed for the construction of this railway, a joint financing of India and Bangladesh. But in 2015 it increased to ৳3,802 crores. The deadline for the construction project was 2018. Due to the change in the route of the railway, the construction of a bridge over the Rupsa River became final and the length of the proposed railway increased from 53 km to 65 km.[1] Two Indian contractors were appointed for the construction in 2015, but construction began the following year.[2] As of November 2017, 27.5% of railway construction work was completed.[3] The following year saw another 7.95% progress in construction. However, due to various complications, the railway could not be completed within three and a half years, due to which the deadline was proposed back to 2020.[2] In 2019, Md. Nurul Islam Sujon, the railway minister of the country, announced that the railway line would be commissioned in 2022.[4] On 25 June 2022, the construction work of the Rupsha Rail Bridge was completed.[5] But in the same year, Bangladesh Railway sent a letter to the Ministry of Railways requesting to extend the duration of the project by two more years.[6] In 2023, the construction budget was proposed to increase by another ৳459 crore.[7] As of March 2023, the construction of the railway line was 96% complete. According to the project officials, the construction of the railway can be completed in July of the same year.[8]

Stations

  • Phultala Junction railway station
  • Aranghata railway station
  • Mohammadnagar railway station
  • Katakhali railway station
  • Chulkati railway station
  • Bhaga railway station
  • Digraj railway station
  • Mongla railway station

References

  1. "Khulna-Mongla rail project overshoots budget 121% in five years". Bdnews24.com. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 Munima Sultana, The Financial Express (25 May 2018). "Khulna-Mongla rail project cost set to escalate". Archived from the original on 2018-09-10.
  3. "Construction work going on in full swing". The Asian Age. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. "Khulna-Mongla rail services by 2022". Banglanews24.com. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  5. "ভারতীয় ঋণে রূপসা রেল সেতু নির্মাণ শেষ". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 3 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  6. Adhikari, Tuhin Subhra (30 August 2022). "Khulna-Mongla rail line: Not opening this year". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  7. "BR seeks Khulna-Mongla rail line cost hike again". The New Age. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  8. "Khulna-Mongla rail line now to open in July; 96% work completed". The Business Standard. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.


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