Railway inks Tk 97.56cr deal with Indian firm

Bangladesh Railway on Monday signed a contract with an Indian joint venture of JV of RITES and Aarvee Associates to work on a direct rail line project from Bogura to Sirajganj.

Under the Tk 97.56 crore contract, the Indian firm will do the preparatory work on the Sirajganj-Bogura Rail Link Project. Exim Bank of India will disburse the fund.

The project, to be implemented under a Line of Credit (LoC) from India, is aimed at enhancing railway connectivity between the two neighbouring countries, a railways ministry press release said.

It will establish a shorter dual gauge rail link between the western and northern part of Bangladesh, and also the eastern and southern part, via Dhaka.

JV of RITES and Aarvee Associates will update the project’s feasibility study, make a detailed design, and prepare tender documents.

They will also provide construction subversion services when the project’s physical work will start.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan and High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami at the Rail Bhaban in the capital.

Railways Secretary Md Salim Reza chaired the event.

The Indian envoy said Bangladesh and India celebrate 50 momentous years of a relationship that today transcends strategic partnership.

Dignitaries present at the programme reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship through developing modern infrastructure of greater people-to-people connectivity.

Our Sirajganj correspondent said Lalmoni Express and other intercity trains need to travel about 120 kilometres to reach Dhaka from Sirajganj via Santahar junction, Natore, and Pabna’s Ishurdi as there is no direct rail line between Bogura and Sirajganj. It is not only lengthening travel time but passengers also have to pay double for the journey.

The travelling distance from Bogura to Dhaka by train is 405 kilometres. The maximum time for a bus journey between the two places without traffic jam is five hours. But the train journey takes 10-12 hours.

Constructing a direct rail line from Bogura to Sirajganj will save passengers at least three hours. That is why the government planned to build the Bogura-Sirajganj rail line.

Sources said the project was taken up in 2005. The land acquisition survey as a preliminary preparation was conducted with funding from the Asian Development Bank.

But due to a lack of funds, further work on the project was halted.

The Indian government agreed to provide a loan as part of the third LoC under an agreement signed on October 4, 2017, in Dhaka to develop communication infrastructure and the power sector.

Work on formulating the project profile, designing, determining the number of stations, and land valuation then began.

The project was approved at an Executive Committee of the National Economic Council meeting on October 30, 2018.