Dhaka, June 28 (V7N) - Authorities have begun removing the railway track installed on the Bangabandhu Bridge (also known as Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge), following the official opening of the dedicated Jamuna Railway Bridge earlier this year. On Thursday, the West Zone of Bangladesh Railway initiated the dismantling process, including the removal of nuts, bolts, and other track components.
 
According to Al Fattah Md. Masudur Rahman, Additional Director General (Infrastructure) of Bangladesh Railway and Project Director of the Jamuna Rail Bridge, the move comes as part of a joint initiative between the Roads and Highways Department and Bangladesh Railway to widen and optimize road traffic lanes on the bridge.
 
“The Jamuna Rail Bridge has been operational since March 18. Since then, no trains have used the old line over the Bangabandhu Bridge,” said Rahman. “There is no further need to maintain rail infrastructure on the road bridge. Therefore, we are working jointly with the Bridge Division to widen the road deck and improve vehicular capacity.”
 
Originally commissioned in 1998, the Bangabandhu Bridge served as a critical multimodal link between the eastern and western zones of the country, allowing both road and rail traffic across the Jamuna River. However, with the inauguration of the new rail bridge built specifically for railway use, authorities are now focused on reclaiming space on the older bridge to facilitate better road traffic flow.
 
The decommissioning of the rail tracks is expected to significantly increase road lane capacity, reduce traffic congestion, and improve safety for vehicles using the bridge.
 
The 4.8-kilometer Jamuna Railway Bridge, a key strategic infrastructure project funded with Japanese assistance, is part of a broader initiative to enhance national connectivity and integrate regional railway networks.
 
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