Railway signs two contracts with Indian consultancy firm

Bangladesh Railway signed two contracts with an Indian consultancy for two rail projects on Thursday.

The projects include converting the Parbatipur-Kaunia metre gauge line into dual gauge and constructing a broad gauge line in Khulna’s Darshana.

Director of the Darshana broad gauge project Monirul Islam Ferozi and Md Asad on behalf of India’s Stup Consultants-Aarvee Associates joint venture signed a contract. Under the project, a new 126km broad gauge line will be constructed next to the old one. The contract price of this consultancy is Tk 87.37 crore, said a press release.

Director of the Parbatipur-Kaunia project Liaquat Sharif Khan and Abhik Bhattacharya on behalf of the same joint venture signed the other deal.

The contract price of this consultancy is Tk 75.84 crore. Under the project, a 57km metre gauge line will be converted into dual gauge. Both projects will be funded by the Indian line of credit.

Bangladesh in future will be able to increase connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan in addition to India If the Parbatipur-Kaunia line is converted into dual gauge, and this will increase passenger and cargo transportation opportunities, the press release said.

Speaking at the contract signing programme at Rail Bhaban in the capital, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said the government would gradually convert all railway systems into broad gauge, adding all Indian railway lines are broad gauge.

Besides, all new railway line expansion projects will include the broad gauge system, he said.

The minister further said the Bangabandhu railway bridge is being constructed over the Jamuna River, which will facilitate communication between eastern and western regions.

The ministry has also undertaken a project to build double lines from Ishwardi to Joydebpur, Sujan said.

He said eight intersections between Bangladesh and India closed during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war had already been opened while the rest will be opened in succession.