Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate a rail line, constructed for easing the transportation of cargo to Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, in Pabna today.

She will virtually attend the inauguration programme from Gono Bhaban.

The 11-kilometre-long rail line has been constructed by the science and technology ministry at the cost of Tk 335 crore. The construction work started in April 2018.

The construction work ended a year after its deadline. Its cost, however, did not increase, said Asadul Haque, chief engineer of Bangladesh Railway (west zone) and director of the Rooppur rail project.

The project was delivered late because of the coronavirus pandemic, he further said.

"It is a dedicated rail line for the Rooppur plant. As part of the project, we constructed a new rail station near Hardinge Bridge. Besides, we set up a 26.52-km-long dual-gauge rail line, including siding and loop line from Ishwardi by-pass station to Rooppur plant."

Transportation of cargo will be easier after the inauguration of the rail line. The Rooppur rail station will also boost up railway's income as it will be one of the major hubs of cargo transport in the region, he added.

Apart from this, the prime minister will also inaugurate two other rail projects at the same time.

The prime minister will open an 11km-long dual-gauge double-line from Tongi to Joydebpur today.

The line will help railway authorities to increase the number of train trips on the Dhaka-Tongi-Joyebpur route, which links the entire west zone of Bangladesh Railway, said officials.

The second line was built at the cost of Tk 1,300 crore under an Indian-funded project, said sources.

The premier will also open a 14km-long dual-gauge double-line on the Dhaka-Chattogram route.

The sections which will be opened today are Kashba to Mandabagh and Shashidal to Rajapur.

The construction was done under a project funded by Asian Development Bank.

[Our Pabna and Gazipur correspondents contributed to this report.]