Dhaka: Railways Minister Mujibul Haque on Sunday said the travel time between Dhaka and Khulna by rail route will come down to four hours from nine hours once the rail track on the Padma Bridge is opened.

‘The distance from Dhaka to Khulna will be reduced to 191.13 kilometers which is 404.57 kilometers now. It will take only four hours which takes around nine hours now,’ the minister said while briefing journalists about the overall situation of Padma bridge rail link project at Rail Bhaban in the city.

Besides, the distance between Dhaka and Jashore rail route will be reduced by about 185.73 kilometer once the rail track on the Padma Bridge is opened.

Now a train has to run for about 356.40 kilometers to reach Jashore from the capital, he said.

A total of 215.22 kilometer rail line will be constructed under this project. Of which about 23 kilometers will be the elevated path, he said.

He also said that about 100 broad gauge passenger coaches will be added on this route.

A commercial agreement of Tk 27,652 crore and 57 lakhs was signed with ‘China Railway Group Limited’ for implementing this project on August 8, 2016.

Meanwhile, a loan agreement of Tk 266 crore and 79 lakh was signed with Exim Bank of China on April 27, the minister said.

The project summery will be sent to Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina soon for her schedule to set up the foundation stone, he added.