Deal signed with Chinese firm

The government yesterday signed an agreement with   China Railway Group Limited" (CREC) to implement the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project undertaken for setting up improved railway connectivity between the capital and the south-western part of the country.

Director General of the Bangladesh Railway (BR) Md Amzad Hossain and the Chinese company's representative Zhang Zuecai signed the contract on behalf of their respective sides at an event at the capital's Rail Bhaban.

Railways Minister Md Mazibul Hoque, Railways Secretary Md Feroz Salah Uddin, CREC Chairman Li Changjin and Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Ma Mingqiang were present at the event.

According to the agreement, the company will complete the construction of 169-kilometre railway routes by June 30, 2022. Of the contract value of Tk 27,652.57 crore, Tk 24,749.05 crore will come from Chinese government's G2G funding, while the remaining Tk 2,903.52 crore from the fund of the Bangladesh government.

The railway route will be constructed in four sections under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.

The four sections are 3-km Dhaka-Gendaria route, 37-km Gendaria-Mawa, 42-km Mawa-Bhanga Junction-Bhanga via Padma Bridge, and 87km Bhanga-Jessore.

The railway routes will link Dhaka with Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Narail, Faridpur, Gopalganj and Jessore.