Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan has expressed hope that the long cherished Padma Bridge will be opened for public by December, 2021. Moreover, the vehicles and trains will run from the first day of the Padma Bridge inauguration.
He made the remarks while addressing a function as the chief guest at a cheque distribution function for the rehabilitation facilities of the people affected by the Padma Bridge rail link project at Shibchar in Madaripur district on Thursday. Railway Secretary Selim Reza and Director General Md Shamsuzzaman were also present there as special guests.
The minister said, “The railway line connected to the Padma Bridge will be opened to the public in December next year. We are working on that. The rail link of Padma Bridge will be connected to Barisal-Kuakata-Payra Port.”
“The Padma Bridge will open an unprecedented horizon of communications for the people of the region. It will be possible to establish very fast communication with the capital,” he added.
He further said, “There will be a state of the art railway station at Bhanga in Faridpur. This will bring social, economic, and cultural change among the people of the area.”
Nurul Islam Sujan said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working tirelessly to implement a prosperous Sonar Bangla dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Only because of her visionary leadership, it is possible to implement such a big work.”
Project Director and Additional Secretary Engineer Golam Fakhruddin Ahmed Chowdhury presided over the function, while Chief Coordinator of CSC Major General FM Zahid Hossain, Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) chairman Md Azhar Ali Talukder, Madaripur district administrator Dr Rahima Khatun, Madaripur Police Super Md Mahbub Hossen among others also spoke on the occasion.
According to the program information, 358.41 hectares of land were acquired for 82.35 kilometer railway from Dhaka to Bhanga.