A new direct Rail Link from Bogura to Shahid M. Mansur Ali Station, Sirajganj will be developed under a Line of Credit (LoC) from India in a significant step towards further modernization of Bangladesh’s railway infrastructure.

The project is aimed at enhancing railway connectivity between Bangladesh and India. The funds will be disbursed through EXIM Bank of India.

As the first step, an agreement between Bangladesh Railway and Indian consultant (JV of RITES Ltd. and Aarvee Associates) was signed on Monday. 

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Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami were present. 

The signing ceremony took place in Rail Bhaban with Railway Secretary Mohd Salim Reza in the chair. 

Senior officials from Railways Ministry, Bangladesh Railway, Indian High Commission, Dhaka, Exim Bank of India’s Dhaka Representative Office, RITES Ltd. and Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd. were also present.

The scope of Consultancy Services includes updating the project feasibility study, detailed engineering design and drawings of all infrastructure including bridges, embankments, railway track, stations, signalling and all other facilities, route alignment, mathematical modeling, tendering services and construction supervision services.

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The physical execution of the project, once finalized, will involve the construction of a dual gauge main line and loop lines from Bogra to Sirajganj, as well as construction of stations, platforms, bridges, an administrative facility, installation of lighting, overhead sign structures, and the laying of track. 

Once completed, this project would establish a shorter Dual Gauge Link between the western and northern parts of Bangladesh and the eastern and southern parts of the country, via the capital city, Dhaka. 

This new railway route will reduce the rail distance by about 112-km, thus saving travel time of about 3 hours from Dhaka to northern districts. 

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It will also facilitate seamless operations of broad gauge and meter gauge trains and provide fast, high quality services to passengers.

As Bangladesh and India celebrate fifty momentous years of a relationship that today transcends strategic partnership, dignitaries present at this event reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship through development of modern infrastructure of greater people-to-people connectivity, said the High Commission of India.