DHAKA, July 3, 2022 (BSS) - The Rupsha Rail Bridge as part of the Khulna-
Mongla Port Rail Line Project has been completed under the Indian Line of 
Credit (LOC) extended to the Bangladesh government.
 
On June 25, Indian EPC Contractor L&T completed the construction of 5.13-km 
broad-gauge single-track railway bridge that connected Khulna with the Mongla 
port city via a rail line, a press release issued by Indian High Commission 
said here today. 
 
The bridge has been constructed over the Rupsha tidal river that was a 
challenging engineering feat as it required specialized base grouting 
technology for piling work, the release said. 

 
A total of 856 pile foundations were constructed on viaduct sections and 72 
pile foundations were constructed for the steel bridge section with an 
average pile length of 72-meter, it added.
 
The bridge has also additional features such as navigation fenders piles 
upstream and downstream of the pier, for ensuring navigation safety in the 
river. 

The navigational clearance for the main bridge is more than 18-meter from 
Standard High-Water Level (SHWL). 

The construction materials for the steel bridge superstructure were imported 
from India using road, sea and inland rivers.

The Rupsha railway bridge and the Khulna-Mongla port rail line will greatly 
facilitate transportation of goods and the enhanced connectivity and 
accessibility to the Mongla Port, said the high commission.
 
Besides, the bridge will improve market access for local businesses including 
for agricultural produce by the farmers in the region.
 
It is also expected to positively impact tourism to prominent spots in the 
south-western part of Bangladesh. 

Government of India has extended four LOCs to Bangladesh government worth 
7.862 billion US dollars. 
 
So far, 42 projects have been taken up under the LOCs, of which, 14 projects 
have been completed and the rest are at various stages of implementation, 
according to the Indian mission.
 
Disbursements under these LOCs touched the milestone of one billion US 
dollars as on the closing of the Indian financial year in March 2022 while it 
is set to reach 1,155 million US dollars as on the close of the Bangladeshi 
financial year on June 30, 2022.