First train takes to Padma Bridge railway in historic inauguration
A seven-coach special train, which has left from Bhanga railway station, is set to be first to travel on the newly-constructed railway track on Padma Bridge.
The train will reach Mawa, on the eastern end of the Padma Bridge, after crossing a 42-km track.
Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan inaugurated the journey at 1:20pm.
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Mojibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon, along with several members of the parliament, railway ministry, project and government officials, local public representatives took part in the journey.
A large number of people were present to witness the historic event at the Bhanga railway station.
The Bangladesh government approved the Tk34,989 crore project in 2016 to build a rail link between Dhaka and Jashore through the under-construction Padma Multipurpose Bridge. Later, the project cost increased to Tk39,246.80 crore.
China Exim Bank is providing Tk21,036.69 crore as loan, while the Bangladesh government is contributing Tk18,210.11 crore.
A test run of a "track car" on the 32km new railway line from Faridpur's Bhanga to Mawa near the Padma Bridge under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project took place in November 2022.
