Khulna gets a brand new train station

Dhaka-bound “Chitra Express” left the newly-constructed train station in Khulna yesterday morning around 8:40am. On March 3, 2018 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the station but some technical and administrative work caused the delay in starting formal operations.

Rail service first began in Khulna on February 16, 1884. Trains from the station went to different parts of the then East Bengal (now Bangladesh) as well as Kolkata.

Commuters had been facing difficulty to board trains as the platform was 42 inches high. People of the region were demanding a modern rail station in Khulna. 

Md Majibur Rahman, managing director of Bangladesh Railway (West Zone), officially inaugurated the operation at the new railway station while local high-ups and public representatives were present.

Construction of the project started in April 2015 – after Ecnec approval on January 26, 2014 – at a cost of Tk 56 crore. However, the cost finally went up to Tk 61 crore and 27 lakh.

The three-storied railway station building has six ticket counters, waiting rooms, room for assistant station manager on the first floor; a room for station manager, restaurant, branches of banks, food court and rooms for staff on the second floor; and rooms for railway engineers on the third floor. 

The station comprises of three platforms that can accommodate six trains at the same time. Besides demarcation wall, 4,000 square metre of car parking space, link corridor, footpath and roads were constructed.

The station can accommodate 10,000-12,000 passengers every day.