The Khulna-Mongla railway line, which is expected to expedite the economic activities of the Mongla sea port, is likely to be operational in December.

The construction work of the railway track is going on in full swing. "Till now, the progress of the project has been around 95 percent. We hope to inaugurate the line by this year-end," an official said.

Once operational, the railway line will play a crucial role in increasing the economic activities of the region.

According to the Mongla port authority, the railway link between Khulna and the Mongla sea port is the need of the hour for transportation of goods.

In order to ensure the ease of doing business, the government embarked on the railway project worth Tk 3,800 crore some six years ago.

Read:Rupsha Railway Bridge, Khulna-Mongla port rail line to facilitate goods transportation; connectivity

The project began in November 2016. Initially, the project was scheduled to be completed within May 2020. 

Unfortunately, the project has experienced both time and cost overruns, with the deadline of the project being extended to December this year and the cost of the project shooting up to Tk 4,260 crore.

Ahmed Hossain Mamun, chief engineer and deputy director of the project, said, " The cost of the project has shot up due to unexpected working conditions and some changes in the project plan. Besides laying 65 kilometres of tracks, we are also building eight stations, 32 bridges and 106 culverts, which increased the project cost."

Saiful Islam, secretary-general of Mongla Port Users’ Coordination Committee, said,

"The more the construction work of the Khulna-Mongla rail track is getting delayed, the more losses the businessmen who use the Mongla port are incurring." 

"Once established, the Khulna-Mongla railway track will bring about massive economic and social changes in the Khulna region,” said Saiful.

Abul Khayer Abdullah Khokon Serniabat, general secretary of Mongla Port Berth and Ship Operator Association, said that the Khulna-Mongla rail link will help in transporting goods to Nepal and Bhutan quickly and easily.