Tk 42000cr Bhanga-Kuakata Railway Project: Govt proposed ADB, China for funding

Staff Reporter :
As the feasibility study and design of the rail-link project form Bhanga to Kuakata via Barishal, Patuakhali and Payra port completed in July last year, government has initiated a project funding proposal to Asian Development Bank (ADB) and China, according to an official of Economic Relations Division (ERD).
The estimated total cost of the project is Tk 41,798 crore. Out of this, government will fund Tk 9,598.47 crore and the major portion of the government funding will be spent on the 5,638-acre land acquisition. Foreign financing has been estimated at Tk 32,199.14 crore.
Meanwhile, Barishal division is the country’s lone division without having any railway connectivity. As a result, government’s plan to bring Barishal division under the rail network to establish a direct link between the under-construction Payra Sea Port and the capital, it intended to construct rail line from Bhanga to Kuakata.
The project will connect seven districts through railway- Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Barishal, Jhalokati, Barguna and Patuakhali.
However, Bhanga has already been connected with railway network from Faridpur and it would be directly linked with Dhaka once the ongoing Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, under which a railline from Dhaka to Jashore is being constructed, is completed by June 2024.
The feasibility study of the Bhanga-Kuakata railway Project mentioned as an “economically viable” one and highly desirable investment scheme.
Pointing out some locations on the elevated part of the rail route where the height of embankments would be very high, less land would be required for the project and
flow of water would not be obstructed if the elevated line was built at those points, according to the study.
According to the design, the total length of the railway line or route line will be 214.91 km, of which the main line is 190.11 km and the branch line is 24.80 km. However, the total length of the track will be 369.40 km. Out of this, the route line is 214.91 kilometers and the loop line is 154.49 kilometers. The length of railway embankment will be 168.88 km and 440 box culverts will be constructed, with a total length of 4.43 km along with ten major bridges.
Nineteen rail stations will be established on the entire railway line, as per latest design. Proposed stations are – Bhanga Junction, Baritala, Tekerhat, Madaripur, Kalkini, Gournadi, Uzirpur, Barishal Airport, Barisal, Dapdapia, Bakerganj, Badarpur, Patuakhali, Kakua, Amtali, Payra Port, Payra Port Yard, Lemupara and Kuakata.
Speaking about the project, a top railway official wishing not to be named said that since a part of the line would be elevated, the cost of the project would be more than Tk 41,000 crore. However, everything would be finalised during the final approval of the project.