Khulna–Mongla Port line

Khulna–Mongla Port line is a 65-kilometre long (40 mi)under-construction broad gauge railway to connect the country with Mongla Port. The Rupsha Rail Bridge is located on this route.

Khulna–Mongla Port line
Overview
StatusUnder construction
OwnerBangladesh Railway
LocaleBangladesh
Termini
Stations6
Service
TypeRailway line
History
Opened2023
Technical
Line length65 km (40 mi)
Track gaugeBroad-gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map

 Phultala Junction
 Arranghata
 Mohammadnagar
Mayur River
Rupsha Rail Bridge
Old Pashur River
 Katakhali
 Chulkati
 Bhaga
 Digraj
 Mongla
Source: Bangladesh
Railway Map

History

In 2010, the government planned to build a railway from Khulna to Mongla Port. A budget of ৳1,721 crore was fixed for the construction of this railway, a joint financing of India and Bangladesh. But in 2015 it increased to ৳3,802 crores. The deadline for the construction project was 2018. Due to the change in the route of the railway, the construction of a bridge over the Rupsa River became final and the length of the proposed railway increased from 53 km to 65 km.[1] Two Indian contractors were appointed for the construction in 2015, but construction began the following year.[2] As of November 2017, 27.5% of railway construction work was completed.[3] The following year saw another 7.95% progress in construction. However, due to various complications, the railway could not be completed within three and a half years, due to which the deadline was proposed back to 2020.[2] In 2019, Md. Nurul Islam Sujon, the railway minister of the country, announced that the railway line would be commissioned in 2022.[4] On 25 June 2022, the construction work of the Rupsha Rail Bridge was completed.[5] But in the same year, Bangladesh Railway sent a letter to the Ministry of Railways requesting to extend the duration of the project by two more years.[6] In 2023, the construction budget was proposed to increase by another ৳459 crore.[7] As of March 2023, the construction of the railway line was 96% complete. According to the project officials, the construction of the railway can be completed in July of the same year.[8]

Stations
  • Phultala Junction railway station
  • Aranghata railway station
  • Mohammadnagar railway station
  • Katakhali railway station
  • Chulkati railway station
  • Bhaga railway station
  • Digraj railway station
  • Mongla railway station

References
  1. "Khulna-Mongla rail project overshoots budget 121% in five years". Bdnews24.com. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  2. Munima Sultana, The Financial Express (25 May 2018). "Khulna-Mongla rail project cost set to escalate". Archived from the original on 2018-09-10.
  3. "Construction work going on in full swing". The Asian Age. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. "Khulna-Mongla rail services by 2022". Banglanews24.com. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  5. "ভারতীয় ঋণে রূপসা রেল সেতু নির্মাণ শেষ". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 3 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  6. Adhikari, Tuhin Subhra (30 August 2022). "Khulna-Mongla rail line: Not opening this year". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  7. "BR seeks Khulna-Mongla rail line cost hike again". The New Age. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  8. "Khulna-Mongla rail line now to open in July; 96% work completed". The Business Standard. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.


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