Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, jointly unveiled the highly-anticipated Khulna-Mongla Port rail line project on Wednesday, November 1. This pivotal rail initiative represents a significant milestone, as it forms a part of India's inaugural Line of Credit to Bangladesh, extended in 2010.

The Indian Railways, besides its unwavering commitment to enhancing domestic connectivity, is leaving no stone unturned in fostering stronger ties with neighboring nations. Reflecting this vision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Sheikh Hasina, proudly inaugurated the much-anticipated Khulna-Mongla Port rail line through a virtual ceremony on Wednesday.

This rail project materialized under the aegis of the concessional Line of Credit extended by the Government of India to Bangladesh in 2010, entailing an investment of USD 388.92 million.

The venture primarily entails the construction of a 65-kilometer broad-gauge rail route, ingeniously interlinking Mongla Port with the preexisting rail network in Khulna. This momentous endeavor by both governments heralds the consolidation of Mongla Port, Bangladesh's second-largest and busiest seaport, with the extensive broad-gauge (BG) railway network.

The total route length spans 64.75 kilometers (comprising a track length of 89.5 kilometers) and features an impressive 108 culverts. Notably, this rail route showcases 31 newly-constructed bridges, including a monumental 5.2-kilometer-long bridge over the River Rupsha. Completed on June 25, 2022, this bridge stands as a pivotal component of the project, fostering closer connections within central and northern Bangladesh. It will also greatly enhance connectivity at the Indian border, specifically at Petrapole and Gede in West Bengal.

The newly-inaugurated Khulna-Mongla Port rail line project promises to enhance the operational efficiency of Mongla Port while simultaneously bolstering Bangladesh's connectivity with three neighboring countries--India, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Furthermore, this new rail link will further bolster connectivity between Mongla Port and Siliguri, a city situated in the northeastern Indian state of West Bengal, by establishing a transit route through Panchagarh and Banglabandha in the north.

PM Modi, Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina to Inaugurate Three India-Assisted Projects Today