Jamuna Rail Bridge inaugurated

The much-awaited Jamuna Rail Bridge, the country's largest railway bridge was formally inaugurated on Tuesday at 10 am, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh's railway connectivity.

“Following this inauguration, trains will be able to run at a speed of 120 km/h, revolutionising rail communication between Dhaka and the northwestern region,” said Al Fattah Masudur Rahman, project director of the Jamuna Rail Bridge Project.

Railways Secretary Md Fahimul Islam attended the inauguration as the chief guest at Ibrahimabad Railway Station on the eastern bank of the Jamuna Rail Bridge, reports UNB.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and the Director General of JICA’s South Asia Department were present as special guests at the event, said the project director.

With its introduction, not only will railway travel time be significantly reduced, but it will also fulfill a long-standing dream of better connectivity and economic growth for the northwestern region.

The 4.8 km-long Jamuna Rail Bridge features 50 pillars and 49 spans.

Initially, the project was budgeted at Tk 9,734.07 crore, but the cost later increased to Tk 16,780.96 crore. Of this, 27.60% was financed domestically, while 72.40% was funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Japanese company OTG and IHI Joint Venture implemented the project, with contributions from five major Japanese contractors. Over 7,000 workers from Japan, Vietnam, Nepal, Australia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh worked for four years to complete the bridge.