IHI Infrastructure Systems and Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Receive Order that Will Help Enhance Capacity and Safety of Rail Transportation Services in Bangladesh

-April 16, 2020-

IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd., announced today that IHI-SMCC Joint Venture (“IHI-SMCC JV”) , has received an order from the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh Railway for Package-WD 2, covering the Western Part of Civil Works, for the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge Construction Project.

Conceptual drawing

Source: OC GLOBAL -CHODAI-DDC Joint Venture

Demand for rail transportation is set to rise in Bangladesh in the years ahead in view of its robust economic progress in recent years. The nation lacks resources to cater to such demand, as its aging rail infrastructure limits speeds and capacity while creating delays. It urgently needs to tackle these challenges. The Bangabandhu Bridge across the Jamuna River, around 100 kilometers northwest of Dhaka, the capital, serves road and rail traffic as an important part of the Trans-Asian Railway that connects Bangladesh with neighboring India. There are issues, however, with structural vibration and cracks.

The Japanese government will provide a Japanese ODA loan for the project, which will create a railway link that complements the Bangabandhu Bridge. The new setup should enable Bangladesh to safely accommodate rising rail transportation demand while helping streamline logistics within and outside the nation.

Project summary
Name	Package-WD 2 for the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge Construction Project Western Part of Civil Works
Client	Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh Railway
Contractors	IHI-SMCC Joint Venture
Construction period	48 months
Construction period	Sirajganj and Tangail districts
Contract works	6,075.7m (total length of the whole project:11,300 m) 2,250m steel truss bridge (total length of the bridge: 4,800m) (steel pipe sheet pile foundations), viaduct, track, embankment, station building construction, and river training works

Location map

IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd. has constructed numerous bridges in overseas. Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. has amassed great technical and competitive prowess in steel pipe sheet pile foundations, a challenging aspect of the work in this project. These combined strengths led to the new award. Both companies will leverage their expertise to contribute to the economic development of Bangladesh through the project.