Bangladesh Railway (BR) yesterday signed a contract with a joint venture company, for the construction of a rail line to link the under-construction Rooppur nuclear power plant with the country's rail network. The agreement was signed at a programme held at the Rail Bhaban in the capital.

Mojibor Rahman, general manager (West) of Bangladesh Railway, signed the contract on behalf of the railway, while Suvash Chandra Hawlader, managing director of Standard Engineers Ltd, signed on behalf of the Indo-Bangla joint-venture company.

The three companies of the joint venture are Bangladeshi companies Standard Engineers Ltd and Castle Construction Company Ltd (CCCL), and Indian company GTP Infra Project Ltd.

The 26.52 kilometers (including a 4.50 km loop-line) dual-gauge railway line between Pabna's Ishwardi Bypass and Rooppur power plant will be constructed within a year and half at the cost of Tk 29755.74 lakh.

Railways Minister Mujibul Haque said the Rooppur power plant, the country's first nuclear power plant, is a very important project undertaken by the government, with the Prime Minister's Office directly keeping updates of its construction on a regular basis.

The main purpose of the track is to transport heavy equipment and goods for the power plant project, and also for its waste managment, he said adding that the joint venture company would start their work within few days.

He asked the company officials to maintain quality and complete their work within the given deadline of 18 months, starting from yesterday.

Besides the rail track, seven culverts, 13 level-crossing gates, one station building and one railway platform would be constructed under the project.

CCCL Director and Awami League Lawmaker from Jessore Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Railways Secretary Mofazzel Hossain and Railways Director General Amzad Hossain also spoke at the programme.