DHAKA, Nov 27, 2024 (BSS)- The test run on the double line dual gauge Railway Bridge over Jamuna River was completed today while commercial operation is slated for January, 2025.

Trial runs of two double engine trains were completed successfully, project director of Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman told BSS.

The test run began yesterday and completed today with measuring different parameters of the bridge, he said adding, test of speedy run was followed by slow speed measurement.

The 4.8km long country’s largest railway bridge has been constructed at a cost of Taka 16780 crore with the financial support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA has given around Taka 12000 crore, while the rest of money came from the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) fund.  

Two Japanese joint-venture firms in 2026 started the construction of the bridge, equipped with gas pipeline facility, some 300 metres upstream of the existing single-line Bangabandhu Bridge. 

ECNEC approved the project in December 2016 which was scheduled to be completed by December 2023. But the physical work of the project began in August 2020.

The railway bridge would improve the capacity and efficiency of Bangladesh Railway (BR), putting a positive impact on the country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP) growth, officials said.

The rail bridge will have the capacity to operate 88 trains daily while highest 22 trains can run over the existing single line Bangabandhu Bridge every day.