The construction of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge over the Jamuna River is 98% complete, with the remaining 2% expected to be finished soon.
The authorities hope that the bridge will be open for traffic in December 2024. Once operational, the bridge is expected to accommodate up to 88 trains daily at speeds of 100 to 120 kilometres per hour. As a result, it will cut the journey time on the route by 20 minutes.
Workers are currently polishing the outer portion of the bridge ahead of the inauguration.
Project Director Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman said: “98% of work has been done. Also, the cost has remained the same. We are hoping that it can be inaugurated in December, and we are working with that aim. We have carried out a trial run on the track already.”
Authorities further said that even high-speed trains will be able to run on the track. However, in the first year, trains will be allowed to run at a speed of 100 to 120 kilometres per hour.
Initially budgeted at Tk9,734 crore, the cost of the bridge has since risen to Tk16,780.95 crore following a two-year extension.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has provided a loan covering 72.40% of the project costs, with the remainder financed domestically for the project that was undertaken in 2016.
The 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.
This state-of-the-art railway bridge is anticipated to increase passenger numbers and enhance freight transportation significantly.
The dual-gauge, double-track bridge involves the construction of 50 pillars—27 on the Tangail side and 23 on the Sirajganj side—by both local and international engineers and workers.
Once completed, the 4.8-kilometer-long bridge would be the largest dedicated railroad bridge in the country. It consists of a 0.05-kilometre viaduct on both sides and 7.667 kilometres of approach roads. Authorities have also attached a gas line to the rail bridge.
The 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 passenger inconveniences.
Initiated in November 2020, the construction of the new railway bridge is considered a crucial step towards improving the country's rail infrastructure.