Train communication on the 138.64 km Benapole-Mongla route began operations today (June 1), carrying 600 passengers on its inaugural journey.

People from all walks of life burst into joy as the passenger train decorated with colourful ribbon, festoons departed for Mongla port at around 10 am, reaching Mongla via Khulna's Phultala at approximately 2.05pm on Saturday. 

Additional general manager of Railway, Ahmed Masum said the commuter train will operate daily, except on Tuesdays.

Railway engineer Sadekur Rahman, chief commercial officer Sujit kumar Biswas, Superintendent Ahmed Ullah and traffic inspector Aungshuman Chowdhury, among others, were present at the station.

Khulna Mongla Port Railway Project Director Md Arifuzzaman said: "The Betna Express train left the Benapole station around 10.00am and reached the Mongla station around 2.05pm. This marks the inauguration of official train movement on this route."

Earlier, necessary preparations, including hiring permanent manpower, have been completed to launch passenger trains, he said.

The train schedule of Betna Express is as follows: it will leave Khulna at 6:15am, reach Benapole at 8:30am, then leave Benapole via Phultala and arrive in Mongla at 12:35pm. On its way from Phultala, the Mongla Commuter will stop at Mohammadnagar, Katakhali, and Chulkati Bazar railway stations. The train will depart from Mongla at 1pm and reach Benapole at 4:30pm. Trains are closed weekly on Tuesday.

The Khulna-Mongla railway project was initiated in 2010 and approved by the National Economic Council Executive Committee (Ecnec). The project has been implemented in three phases.

The total length of the railway track, including the main line, is 86.87km, with 64.75km of broad gauge railway. A 5.13km railway bridge has been constructed over the Rupsa River. The project's initial cost, including land acquisition, railway line, and bridge construction, was estimated at Tk 1,721 crore.

BDST: 1941 HRS, JUN 01, 2024
MN