After the inauguration of Padma Multipurpose Bridge for vehicular movement in June last year road connectivity of 21 south and southwestern districts with capital Dhaka and other major cities has been established.
Since then the people of southwestern region have been driving straight to Dhaka by road, leaving the awful nightmare of ferry ghat, as they are now crossing the Mighty River Padma in just six minutes over the bridge. The 6.03-kilometre long and 23.32-metre wide bridge have four lanes for the movement of light to heavy transports on its upper deck and trains on its lower deck alongside carrying power and gas transmission lines.
On June 26 last year, the Padma Bridge’s upper deck was opened for vehicular movement. However, the people had to wait for crossing the river by train. But on Tuesday the dream of southwestern people came true as the much-desired Dhaka-Bhanga railway connectivity via Padma Bridge was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
So, the train service on Mawa-Bhanga crossing through the Padma Multipurpose Bridge has added another feather to the country’s cap of big achievements. The train communication crossing the mighty river Padma will bring a massive progress in railway connectivity of south and southwestern districts with capital Dhaka and other major cities.
Though the Dhaka-Bhanga rail route has been inaugurated, the commercial train service on the route will not launch immediately, rather the service will begin soon. Lakhs of people of southwestern districts are so much happy, enthusiastic and delighted to witness the opening of their respective dream railway service to traffic. So, a feeling of joy has been sweeping over the region since Tuesday.
Sheikh Hasina has proved
that proper and bold
political leadership can
make impossible into possible.
The government has a target to link Bangladesh railway with the Trans Asian Railway and it is working to this end. Upon completion, it will also establish another sub-route of Trans-Asian Railway Network in Bangladesh and introduce national, regional and international freight and BG container train service as this route will be free from speed and load restriction for carrying containers. Once the rail link becomes fully operational, it will save travel time between Dhaka and Jashore by half, help make a major boost to the country's railway connectivity. Upon completion, the railway connectivity will improve accessibility to the capital city with central and southwestern regions of the country through Padma Bridge, covering new areas of Munshiganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Narail districts.
The rail link will contribute significantly to the country’s economy, as 64 districts of the country will be brought under the railway network in phases. We believe the remaining portion connecting Jashore will also be launched immediately.
We express our gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for constructing the Padma Bridge and the rail link, putting an end to their longstanding suffering of communication. People are now not facing difficulties in crossing the river Padma by road transports and they will now travel their respective destinations quickly and safely by train immediately.
Due to the pragmatic steps of the government, Bangladesh has turned around over the last 14 years and nine months. In this regard, we would like to mention that construction of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge has already created a perception that “Bangladesh can do” and it has brightened the country’s image in the world.
Besides, as some mega projects like Metro Rail Line-6, Dhaka Elevate Express Way, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the yesterday Padma Bridge Rail Link Project were inaugurated while another one Karnaphuli Tunnel is set to be opened on October 28.
Therefore, the current year is the milestone for Bangladesh in terms of infrastructure development. As these (mega) projects have been implemented, the face of our economy will start changing fast. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s daughter Sheikh Hasina has proved that proper and bold political leadership can make impossible into possible.