Khulna-Mongla rail link to get lengthy, costly

The government is set to increase the project cost of Khulna to Mongla railway link construction to Tk459crore after a second amendment stretching the total cost to Tk4,261crore.

Two variation proposals (WD-1, WD-2) regarding the “Khulna to Mongla Port Railway Project” will be placed in the virtual meeting of Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase  today, according to the sources of the Railway Ministry.

The basic cost of the project was around Tk 1,721.39crore and it will be financed jointly by India’s Line of Credit and Bangladesh government.

Earlier in the first amendment, the project cost was fixed around Tk 3,801.61crore after a hike and the second amendment raised the cost Tk 459crore more expanding the final project cost pushing it to about Tk 4,260.88crore.

Planning Commission sources said Tk 2,948crore of the project cost will be financed by Indian loan while the rest will be fulfilled by the government. Meanwhile, second amendment proposal of the project not only increased the costs but also raised the project time.

A total of 64.750 kilometer long line from Khulna to Mongla will be added to the broad-gauge railway after implementing the project which will connect Mongla sea port with the railway network potentially boosting the regional economy.

The project will increase import-export at Mongla sea port while oil-laden wagons will be able to travel across the country from the Mongla port. Beside, tourists will get safe and comfortable railway transportation for enjoying world’s largest mangrove forest Sundarbans which will increase modal share of railway.

The main project of Tk 1,721.38crore was nodded by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on December 21, 2010.

Earlier, the railway ministry aimed to complete the project within 2013, later the ministry extended the project time without expanding the costs till June 30, 2014. 

Subsequently, first amendment of the project with Tk 3,801.61crore budget aiming to complete within 2018 was approved. Later, tenure of the project was expanded in two phases - until June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Besides, the project tenure will witness further extension till 2022 with the recent amendment.