Photo : TDM
The 6.15 km long Padma bridge was inaugurated on June 25 last year on the river Padma. As a result of the opening of the Padma multipurpose bridge, there has been a radical change in the road connectivity of the 21 districts of the southwestern region of the country with the capital Dhaka. Even from the last district in the south-western part of the country, one can reach Dhaka now in the shortest possible time by road. This simplification of communication has had an impact in all areas. Within a year of the launch of the Padma bridge, the railway work has almost been completed. The rail link over the Padma Bridge connects the capital Dhaka with various southern districts by rail. The people of Padma river area believe that this will be a milestone in the communication system.
Talking to The Daily Messenger, locals said that rail communication is undoubtedly one of the communication modes. There is no alternative to rail for easy movement from one place to another at low cost. After the construction of the Padma bridge, the work of the railway track is going on. Already, the railway will reach Dhaka from Bhanga in Faridpur via Padma bridge.
If the railway starts operation, the people of this region will be able to easily travel to Rajshahi via Padma Bridge with Dhaka. And if the rail operation starts, business and trade will expand. Transportation of goods will become easier. Costs will also come down.
According to the relevant sources, the first trial run of the train on Padma bridge was completed on April 4. A seven-coach special train started from Bhanga in Faridpur at 1:21 PM towards Padma bridge. The train started from Bhanga station and passed through two stations of Shibchar, crosses Padma bridge and reaches Mawa station. The train covered the 42 km track from Bhanga to Mawa in two hours. The dream train went up to the Padma bridge at a speed of 30 kilometers in 2.43 hours.
There are 32 culverts, 37 underpasses, 13 railway bridges on the 172 km rail link project from the capital Dhaka to Jashore. Of the 42.2 km rail line from Bhanga to Mawa, 13.3 km are unstoned and 28.9 km are stoned. This railway has one junction and four stations.
Haider Hossain, a resident of Shibchar at Padma river area said, “Railway is showing us a new dream after Padma Bridge. The people of our region will be able to go to different places including the capital by train at low cost. As Dhaka has come within the reach due to the launch of Padma bridge, the cost of traveling to Dhaka will further decrease if the rail line is launched. You can avoid the traffic jam and go to Dhaka city. By doing this, business and trade will also expand in the marginal areas of Shibchar. People's employment will increase”.
Local teacher Abbas Ali said, "We have seen a lot of changes in one year of the Padma Bridge. Within this year, the railway is on the verge of being launched. Once the railway is launched, the incredible changes in the communication system will be visible!”
Project director Afzal Hossain said, 'The 82 km portion from Dhaka to Bhanga is expected to be operational by September.'
The construction of a bridge on the rough Padma has raised hope in the minds of the common people. The lifting of each span of the Padma Bridge was like the joy of winning the war in the minds of the people of the southern region! The indescribable ordeal of crossing the Padma ended on June 25 last year. The people of the 21 districts of the south-western region expressed their relief.
As communication improves, the quality of life also upgrades, changes take place. After the communication by road, the railway connection of Padma bridge is creating a new dream! The southern districts will gradually come under rail connectivity with the capital Dhaka. Marginal people hope that the expansion and development of business and trade will increase at the village level.
TDM/SD
