The Bridges Division and Bangladesh Railway (BR) are tussling over which agency has the right to construct a new railway bridge to be built across the Jamuna River.
The conflict arose after the government recently decided to build a new railway bridge parallel to the existing Jamuna Multi-purpose Bridge, commonly called the Bangabandhu Bridge. The existing bridge, despite being equipped with rail tracks, has not been able to sustain the stress of railway traffic.
The two agencies have separately taken steps to begin work on the coveted project, and have sought guidance from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to clarify their respective roles.
The new 4.8km dual-gauge double-line railway bridge is estimated to cost Tk8,274 crore 35 lakh and will be constructed parallel to the existing Bangabandhu Bridge.
The Japanese government will provide Tk6,651 crore 63 lakh, while the rest of the cost will be borne by the exchequer.
Bangladesh Railway, under the Railway Ministry, and the Bridges Division, under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, both sent letters to the PMO this month explaining their respective positions.
The Bridges Division says that according to the Allocation of Business, it alone has the legal authority to construct and maintain bridges greater than 1,500 metres in length.
The division earlier built the 4.8km Jamuna Multi-purpose Bridge whose under-performing railway track has necessitated the new railway bridge.
The division argued that it could construct the railway bridge at a lower cost than BR because it has had greater experience with conditions at the construction site.
“According to the Allocation of Business and Ordinance, we have the legal authority to build the railway bridge. Bangladesh Railway is also interested in constructing it even though they do not have sufficient experience. We will wait for direction from the PMO,” Bridges Division Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.
Bangladesh Railway has also sought permission from the PMO to construct the new railway bridge.
Railway authorities contend that according to the Allocation of Business, BR enjoys sole authority to construct any type of railway bridge. Railway authorities cited the Railway Act, 1890 to press their claim.
The Bridges Division Ordinance only applies to the construction of road bridges, Railway authorities said. Even if the Bridges Division were allowed to construct the railway bridge, it would eventually be handed over to BR for maintenance, it added.
In its letter, Bangladesh Railway said it had completed a feasibility study and was working on a detailed project plan.
The BR's feasibility study was carried out by Montreal-based Canarail Consultants Ltd.
BR Director General Amzad Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: “Earlier, the Railway was under the Communications Ministry, now it is under the Railway Ministry.
“When the Bangabandhu Bridge was built, the Railway helped the Bridges Division.”
BR said a detailed project plan had been sent to the Planning Commission, adding that it hoped to commence work on the bridge later this year and complete it by 2020.
The BR director general said: “At the moment, passenger trains use the bridge at some risk and goods trains are off limits. This hampers domestic and international trade.”
The railway track on the existing Jamuna Multi-purpose Bridge cannot handle freight trains at all and can only carry passenger trains moving at 5kmh.
The new bridge is expected to be able to handle passenger trains travelling at 100kmh and cargo trains at 80kmh, according to BR's detailed project plan.