Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
On February 9, 2023, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated the Ishwardi-Rooppur railway and the Rooppur station in a grand ceremony.
Domestic and foreign guests including senior railway officials were present on the occasion. Rooppur Railway Station and Ishwardi-Rooppur Railway have been constructed to reach and load-unload the heavy equipment of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
It is also said at that time that the goods of Ishwardi EPZ are being transported by this railway. 335 crore 97 lakh taka has been spent on the implementation of this project. Even after 1 year and 10 months of inauguration, not a single product has been transported on this railway. Rooppur station, built at a huge cost, is currently being used as a ‘wagon yard’ and for storing goods of the railway authorities. It has been found that various goods and heavy parts of the power project are brought to Rooppur project by river and road.
According to the project source, the railway authority implements this project under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The campaign runs from April 2018 to June 30, 2022. Under the project, a 26.52 km railway line from Ishwardi bypass station to Rooppur via Ishwardi and a station called Rooppur were constructed. Among them, 13 level crossings, construction of 7 box culverts and installation of computer beige color light signaling system for connection with Rooppur nuclear power plant. During the inauguration of the project, officials said that passenger trains will not run from Rooppur station. It will be used only for carrying goods and heavy machinery of Rooppur nuclear power plant. Besides, goods of Ishwardi EPZ will also be transported from this station.
On the surface, it can be seen that the Rooppur station in a modern style near the Padma River in Pakshi is deserted. Railway security personnel are on duty there. The platform area is littered with debris. All places including ticket counter, goods booking room, guest room, VIP room, first class waiting room, stationmaster, assistant stationmaster are locked.
A member in charge of security said that the road from the station to Rooppur is under the Hardinge Bridge. It is risky to carry in this direction. I heard that is why it is not loading and unloading.
Pakshi Divisional Railway Transport Officer (DTO) Anwar Hossain said that no cargo has been loaded or unloaded for the Rooppur project through the new station and railway. Some new railway wagons and coaches are kept in the station yard. Which is imported from different countries including India. Due to lack of space and security, these coaches are currently brought to Rooppur station.
Bangladesh Railway Western Region General Manager (Additional Duty) Ahmed Hossain Masum said, the matter is the issue of Rooppur project. Only those who paid will use it. It may not be in use now, but in the future it may be of much use in the Rooppur project. However, Rooppur Project Authority can speak well about the matter.