Tangail, Sept 04 (V7N): The construction of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge over the Jamuna River is nearly complete, with 94% of the work finished. Authorities have announced that the remaining 6% of the project is on track to be completed by December.

Jointly funded by the governments of Japan and Bangladesh, the bridge has had all its spans installed. While work on the Tangail side is fully completed, the Sirajganj side is in the final stages of construction.

The bridge, which features a dual-gauge, double-track design, includes the construction of 50 pillars—27 on the Tangail side and 23 on the Sirajganj side—built by a team of local and international engineers and workers.

Once operational, the bridge will accommodate up to 88 trains daily, traveling at speeds between 100 and 120 kilometers per hour.

The project, initially budgeted at Tk 9,734 crore, has seen its cost rise to Tk 16,780.95 crore following a two-year extension. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided a loan covering 72.40% of the project costs, with the remainder financed domestically.

This new railway bridge is expected to revolutionize rail connectivity between Dhaka and the northern regions, following the transformative impact of the Bangabandhu Bridge on road transportation since 1998. The state-of-the-art bridge is anticipated to significantly increase passenger numbers and enhance freight transportation.

Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman, the director of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge Construction Project, stated that the remaining tasks include some station and platform work on the western side, along with levelling, aligning, and track installation. He expressed confidence that after testing and commissioning, the bridge would be inaugurated in December.

The original Bangabandhu Bridge, also known as the Jamuna Bridge, inaugurated in 1998, connected Dhaka to the northern and southwestern regions by rail. However, structural issues led to speed restrictions, causing delays and inconveniences for passengers. The construction of the new railway bridge, initiated by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in November 2020, is seen as a critical step towards improving the country's rail infrastructure.

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