DHAKA: Train service will kick off on the day the long-awaited Padma Bridge opens. That’s why railway construction is going on in full swing, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan told journalists, at a press conference on his recently wrapped up official tours to India and China, at Rail Bhaban auditorium in Dhaka on Tuesday (September 17).

The minister said: “We are working to make rail service modern and time-befitting. We have many projects underway with the cooperation from China and financing of India. We want to bring train service to the top of the needs of 16 crore people. Already we have begun work for that purpose. Work is underway to convert single lines into double lines. Work has begun to initiate rail service on new routes.”

He said: “Construction work of Padma Bridge is going on in full swing. Meanwhile, 73 percent of the bridge work has been completed. Our work is also being continued. On the day of the inauguration of the bridge, the train will run over it. To this end, 42-kilometer rail line work is underway in full swing from Bhanga to Mawa. However, it will take much time to run train from Dhaka to Jashore   (172 km) over this bridge. That may require time until the duration of our project (2024).”

BDST: 1621 HRS, SEP 17, 2019

AH/SMS