20 world-class rail stations
to build at Tk 39,248 cr

Mahfuja Mukul: The passengers’ experience using the country’s railway stations is not very pleasant. Strange smell at most stations. Dirty environment. For this reason, passengers are afraid to use the toilet. Suffering from moving from one platform to another. The dilapidated state of the footoverbridge, which is totally unsuitable for use by the elderly and the disabled.
The total cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 39,247.69 crore. Of this, Chinese debt is Tk 21,038.69 crore and government funding is Tk 16,210 crore. Work on the project started in January 2016. The work is expected to be completed in July 2024.
Pohat also suffers from getting on the train as the platform is low. However, the opposite can be seen in the stations under the Padma Bridge rail link project. All the stations on the Dhaka-Jessore route that became the Padma Bridge will be modern and aesthetic.
It is known that the length of railway from Kamalapur in Dhaka to Jessore is 162 kilometers. There will be 20 state-of-the-art stations along this long route. All the stations except Gandaria will be 426 sqm. The Gandaria station will be 545 square meters.
Inside these stations will be footoverbridges, escalators and lifts. There will be separate toilet facilities for men and women. There will be special arrangements for the disabled including the place of prayers. As a result, people with disabilities can use the station safely without anyone’s help.
According to railway sources, the entire railway line from Dhaka to Jessore via Keraniganj and Padma bridges will be paved. Under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, 43.22 km of loop and siding lines, 56 major bridges, 263 minor bridges, culverts and underpasses, 20 stations, purchase of 100 broad gauge coaches and 2,426 acres of land have been acquired. The work is being done in three sections from Kamalapur in Dhaka to Jessore. They are Dhaka-Mawa, Mawa-Bhanga and Bhanga-Jessore.
Sophisticated 20 stations
20 stations will be constructed on the route from Kamalapur to Jessore. Of these, 14 stations will be new. The old six stations will be modernized and modernized. Two new stations will be constructed on the ground floor of Keraniganj and Munshiganj. After that Srinagar and Mawa stations of Munshiganj will be constructed. The Mawa station will be comparatively more aesthetic. According to the project -‘Looking at it from a distance, it will look like a high-quality shopping mall.’
After Mawa station, ‘Padma station’ will be built on Jajira of Shariatpur after crossing Padma bridge. The distance from Mawa station to Padma station will be 14 kilometers. Of this, six kilometers will fall on the Padma bridge. However, the people of Setupar have to cross two to three kilometers of road to get to the station. Still happy bridge dwellers.
Sajidul Haque, a resident of Padma Setupar, told, “My house is in MawaChowrasta area. From where the Padma Bridge started. However, the station is being built in Dogachhi market. About three kilometers away from Mawa crossroads. Yet we are happy. Because it is not possible to build house to house station. Even then, if I can reach the station with a little effort, I can easily go to Dhaka. There will be no problem. ‘
After Padma station, there will be ‘Shibchar station’ in Shariatpur. Besides, the junction will be constructed in the style of a developed country at Faridpur. From Bhanga one loop went to Faridpur Sadar and another loop went to Nagarkanda. However, a station will be constructed in Nagarkanda under the project. After that, railway stations will be constructed at Moksudpur and Maheshpur in Gopalganj. Then the station will be at Lohagarh, NarailSadar in Narail. Then two new stations will be constructed at Jamdia and Padmabil in Jessore.
Six stations will be arranged
Under the project, six existing railway stations will be rehabilitated. Among them is Dhaka’s Kamalapur railway station. Besides, broken stations at Gandaria and Faridpur will be beautified. The other three stations scheduled for renovation are across the bridge. These are Kashiani in Gopalganj, Singai and Rupdia stations in Jessore. These existing stations will be rebuilt.
According to railway sources, Gandaria III dual gauge line from Kamalapur, overhead station at Bhanga junction, underpass at Titipara in Kamalapur, new underpass at Tularampur in Narail and underpass at Bhanga station will be constructed. Stations that can be accessed from one platform to another via underpass will not have elevators or escalators. Operational facilities will be increased at Mawa, Padmabil, Kashiani and Rupdia stations.
Residential buildings at 10 stations Residence buildings with modern facilities will be constructed at 10 stations to ensure accommodation facilities for others including railway station staff. These stations are: Nimtala, Srinagar, Mawa, Padma, Shibchar, Bhanga Junction, Lohagarh, Jamdia, Narail and Padmabil Junction.
Abu Yusuf Mohammad Shamim, Deputy Project Director (Way and Work) of Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, told, “The rail link will start from Kamalapur in Dhaka and then go to Narayanganj. Gandaria will go to Shampur. Narayanganj will turn right after going crazy. From there the line will cross Buriganga and enter Keraniganj. After crossing Keraniganj, it will reach Jajira through Padma Bridge via Mawa of Munshiganj. According to the design and goals of the project, the speed of this route will be 120 kilometers per hour.
Regarding the construction of state-of-the-art stations, he said, “Passenger facilities will be enhanced at the stations as much as possible.” There will be special facilities for the elderly and disabled passengers. Elevators and escalators will be provided along the footoverbridge so that these passengers can easily move from one platform to another.
It is learned that the total cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 39,247.69 crore. Of this, Chinese debt is Tk 21,038.69 crore and government funding is Tk 16,210 crore. Work on the project started in January 2016. The work is expected to be completed in July 2024.
The progress of the project is 54 percent
Work on the Padma Bridge rail link project is progressing fast. The physical progress of the project is 54 percent and the financial progress is 54.9 percent. The construction of the railway is going on in three parts. It has been seen on the spot that railway bridges have been constructed in all places including filling of soil. Besides, the work of Mawa station has also become visible. The progress of Dhaka-Mawa section is 50.5%. Besides, the progress of Jessore from Mawa-Bhanga 6 and Bhanga is 48 percent.
Regarding the progress of the project, said the director of the Padma Bridge rail link project. Afzal Hossain told, “A lot of time has been wasted in the coronavirus situation. Work on the Padma Bridge rail link project is in full swing. This project will have a positive financial impact not only on the people of the South but also across the country. We are working hard day and night to deliver the benefits of the project. The project is moving forward after overcoming all the challenges. ‘