Railway bridge over Jamuna expected to open in December as project nears completion

The construction of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge over the Jamuna River is now 94% complete, with the remaining 6% expected to be finished by December, authorities have said.

The bridge, funded jointly by the governments of Japan and Bangladesh, has seen the installation of all spans. Work on the Tangail side is fully complete, while the Sirajganj side is nearing completion. 

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 operational, the bridge is expected to accommodate up to 88 trains daily at speeds 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.

• Bangabandhu Railway Bridge: Crossing the Jamuna in 5 minutes

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.

Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman, director of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge Construction Project, said the remaining tasks included some station and platform work on the western side, levelling, aligning and track installation. 

“After testing and commissioning, we expect the bridge to be inaugurated in December.”

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. 

The construction of the new railway bridge, initiated by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in November 2020, is seen as a crucial step towards improving the country's rail infrastructure.