Ishwardi Railway StationIshwardi is a railway junction in Bangladesh, situated in the district of Pabna, in the division of Rajshahi.The government is all set to upgrade the key Joydevpur-Ishwardi railway corridor to cope with rising demand for rail services and improve regional connectivity.
As part of a massive railway development plan, a Tk 14,250 crore project has been launched this week to upgrade the 174km section which is the lifeline of rail connectivity between Dhaka and western zone of Bangladesh Railway, official sources said.
Currently, the corridor has a mixed gauge single line, but the project will improve it to a mixed gauge double-line to enhance line capacity to carry more passengers and goods.
With the initiative, the government has a plan to operate more broad gauge container trains.
Besides, it is a part of proposed Trans-Asian Railway network, SAARC, SASEC, BIMSTEC and BCIM routes.
The corridor started from Joydevpur and ended in Iswardi of Pabna, stretching over the Bangabandhu bridge over the Jamuna river.
Iswhardi is a century-old key junction that provides rail service from Dhaka to port city Khulna, Jashore and Kolkata through Hardinge bridge.
The junction also connects Rajshahi, Rangpur and other northern cities with the capital.
Rail connectivity is severely hampered on the route as the number of trains cannot be raised because of the single line, longer journey and much gap between existing stations.
Because of quick expansion of domestic and regional economies, demand for carrying more passengers and goods is on the rise, but the capacity of the single line is not enough to meet the increased demand for rail service both at home and in the region.
The railway officials said a major thinking behind upgrading the Joydevpur-Ishwardi section was that the route has become an important national rail corridor in terms of economy, tourism and regional and domestic connectivity.
They further said a feasibility study on the project has already been conducted by joint venture consultants under regional cooperation and intregration project funded by ADB.
The project will be implemented on G2G basis with China. The Chinese government will provide nearly Tk 8,757 crore loan to it while the Bangladesh government will bear Tk 5,494 crore expense. It is expected to be completed by December 2024.
Under the initiative, 162.02km second line will be constructed along the 174km first line as another railway project is underway to construct a dedicated rail bridge over the Jamuna and upgrade the rest of the line.
The project activity includes construction of a total of 187.01km rail track, including 24.9km loop and siding line, reconstruction of 11.28 existing line, 204 bridges (66 major and 138 minor) and building and rebuilding of 22 stations.
Moreover, three road over bridge, installing computer-based signaling system and communication system at 15 stations, setting up of signalling system at 15 level crossings, setting up of central train control system at Pakshi and acquisition of 106 acres of land, among others.
The government’s seventh five-year plan envisages to construct 865km new rail track and upgrade another 1,100km into duel-gauge double track alongside other development plans, including enhancing rolling stock.Nearby Attractions
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