The construction works of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge over the Jamuna River are progressing fast as its 34 per cent work has already been completed.
The 4.8km-long rail bridge is being built at 300m upstream of the Bangabandhu Bridge to enhance rail connectivity between the capital and the country's northwestern regions and it is expected to be the largest dedicated rail bridge in the country.
Piling works of ten pillars were completed and the bridge is becoming visible gradually, said Engineer Mashudur Rahman, director of the project.
He said 34 per cent of works of the country's mega projects were completed, reports BSS.
Railway communication had been introduced between Dhaka and the north and south-western regions of the country first after opening the Bangabandhu Bridge in 1998.
Engineer Rahman said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge on November 29, 2020.
The dual-gauge, double-track bridge will be constructed on 50 pears as the construction works are going on at two ending points of Sirajganj and Tangail.
A 7.6km-long double-line railway approach embankment, a 30.73km dual-gauge railway track, and 16 viaducts will be built under the railway bridge project.
Apart from this, the Bangabandhu Bridge East and West stations and yards will be renovated and remodelled.
Rahman said the bridge will be capable of running trains at a speed of 120km per hour on broad gauge line and 100km per hour on meter gauge track compared to the present speed of 10kmph on the Bangabandhu Bridge.
The dual-gauge double-track railway bridge will save at least 20 minutes of commute time as no train will have to wait for line crossing.
Only 38 trains can now travel through the Bangabandhu Bridge on a daily basis. But after the construction of the railway bridge, it will allow as many as 88 trains to operate every day.
This will also give the authorities the option to increase the number of both passenger and freight trains, which is expected to develop the country's rail services and strengthen regional connectivity.
President of Sirajganj Chamber of Commerce and Industries Abu Yousuf said the Bangabandhu Railway Bridge will develop train services.
It will also help boost the economy of the northern region of the country, he said.
The bridge is expected to improve the country's connectivity with neighbouring countries like India, Nepal, and Bhutan.