Padma rail link project: First batch of steel beam arrives

The Padma Rail Link Project has received its first consignment of steel beam for rail track development on both sides of the Padma river in the country's south.

The shipment arrived finally, overcoming challenges during the coronavirus pandemic and flood situation.

China Railway Group Limited, the contractor, in a press release on Monday said the arrival of the first batch is considered major progress in completing the project by the deadline.

"Considering the stipulated timeline for completion of the project, this is a major progress as production of steel beams has been affected by COVID-19 followed by floods," it added.

Due to high water level of the Yangtze and plum-rain season in China, transportation from Jiujiang city of Jiangxi to Shanghai port by waterway became very difficult and risky.

According to the release, the contractor took additional measures like increased workforce at the port to ensure smooth shipping of the beams considering the urgency and deadline.

Steel girders weighing about 50,000 tonnes, including eight steel truss girder bridges, and 53 steel plate girder bridges, are all manufactured by China Railway Hi-Tech Industry Co Ltd.

The maker shipped the equipment from Shanghai port to Bangladesh for assembling and on-site erection.

The company said the transported steel beams will be used for the on-site erection of bridges No 87, 45, 49, 56, 107, 112, and 120.

They are part of the priority section of the project, which will be opened first as per the government's plan to run both road and rail on the day of inaugural of Padma Bridge.

The rail link project is to set up 168.6-kilometre rail track stretching from Dhaka to Jashore. Of the total stretch, 16.7km is elevated railway.

It includes 181-kilometre ballasted track and 32-kilometre ballastless track, 63 large, medium and small bridges forming a total length of 30.5 kilometre, and 230 culverts of different sizes.