Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the Khulna-Mongla railway line on November 9, ushering in a new era in rail communication with the country's second-largest seaport, Mongla.
So far 99% of the project work has been completed, and officials are making efforts to finish the rest of the work quickly.
After finishing the work, there will be a trial train run on the railway line this month.
The prime minister will also address an election rally at the Khulna Circuit House ground, said Khulna Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary MDA Babul Rana.
Ahmed Hossain Masum, chief engineer of the project, said the railways minister announced that the inauguration will take place on November 9.
Out of a total of 91km of railway, 88km has been completed. Within the next 10 days, 100% of the project is expected to be completed, he added.
Masum said the trial run will be conducted in October after completing 100% of the work. There may be multiple trials.
On December 21, 2010, the Executive Committee on the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the railway line project. The cost of the first phase of the project is estimated at Tk1,721 crore.
The project started in 2011. The work was supposed to be completed by December 2013, but the contractor could not complete it.
As the project work was not completed within the stipulated time, the expenditure in the first amendment increased to Tk3,801 crore.
Then the project was supposed to be completed in December 2021, but it was not possible.
After the second round of amendments, the deadline was extended till December 31, 2022 and the expenditure increased to Tk4,260.88 crore.
