Country’s 1st nuke plant getting rail-linked with Ishwardi

FT ONLINE

Bangladesh Railway on Tuesday signed an agreement with an Indo-Bangla joint venture company to construct a dual-gauge railway line between Pabna’s Ishwardi and Rooppur power plant, the country’s first nuclear plant.

Mojibur Rahman, general manager (West) of Bangladesh Railway, signed the deal on behalf of Bangladesh Railway at Rail Bhaban in the capital in presence of Railways Minister Mujibul Haque.

Suvash Chandra Hawlader, managing director of Standard Engineers Ltd, signed on behalf of Indo-Bangla joint venture company – Standard Engineers Ltd – Castle Construction Ltd of Bangladesh, and GTP Infraprojects Ltd of India.

The project also include construction of a railway station, 13 level crossings and seven box culverts along with purchase and establishment of a computer-based color light signaling system.

The total estimated cost of the project is Tk 297.55 crore involving the construction of a 26.52 km-long rail line including 4.50 km loop-line.

According to the contract, the project will be completed within 18 months.

During the signing ceremony, the minister said the project will be implemented on priority basis following the order of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina under the direct surveillance of Prime Minister’s Office.

“The rail link will ensure easy carrying of heavy materials and equipment from Chattogram and Mongla ports to the under-constructed nuclear power-plant site,” said the minister.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has initiated the project of constructing and renovating the railway tracks and the signaling system.