Adventz Group’s Texmaco Rail & Engineering, India’s total rail solution provider, has been awarded a project (of about Rs. 200 crores) to construct the 45-km-dual-gauge line between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura, a sub-district of Chittagong in Bangladesh. This project is scheduled to be completed in 18 months.
Part of India’s $4.5 billion third line of credit extended to Bangladesh for its infrastructure and social sector development, the Agartala-Akhaura rail project will lend full connectivity from east to west of Bangladesh, apart from enabling trade relations and establishing people-to-people connect between the two neighbours. Once completed, the railway link is expected to cut the distance between Agartala and Kolkata by more than 1,000 km. Further, it will enhance India’s access to Chittagong port, considered to the heart of Bangladesh economy.
Sandeep Fuller, the Executive Director of Adventz Group’s Texmaco Rail & Engineering, said: “The Agartala-Akhaura railway link is a watershed project in ways more than one. It is a matter of pride that with this project Adventz will contribute to the Trans Asia Railway Network and also in efforts to boost bilateral trade and cooperation between the two countries. The rail link - as Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions - will affect 'transformation through transportation’. For Tripura, the railway line will mean enhancing regional access in ways other than by air or the states only national highway, NH44. We see the project as an opportunity for the Adventz Group to showcase our EPC expertise once again, not just in India but across the border too. Adventz’s long-standing experience in helping Bangladesh with its infrastructure makes us quite the entity with insights into the country’s needs and thus ready to fulfil them.”
Texmaco’s specialised engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) unit – Kalindee Railway Nirman (Engineers) – will execute the Agartala-Akhaura project. Last year, Bangladesh Railways awarded Kalindee the civil-and-track project in Kulaura-Shahbazpur Section. It includes rehabilitation of embankment, bridges, station buildings, platforms and sheds, level crossings and railway track, along with all associated work – supply of labour, materials, equipment, p-way tools and electrification work. In March 2017, Texmaco successfully completed the construction of Bhairab Railway Bridge across River Meghna.
The Akhaura-Agartala Dual Gauge Railway Link will include construction of railway stations and associated work in cross-border areas of Karimganj district in Assam and Maulavibazar district in Bangladesh. Track-laying would be as per the high standards of railway construction specifications and with the ability to carry 25-tonne axle load to enable transportation of heavy goods and commodities between the countries.
Texmaco, along with its subsidiaries, began the New Year with a healthy order-book position of Rs 4,700 crores. The railway segment is under prime focus of the government with a huge investment plan to upgrade its infrastructure and operations to global standards, including new rail tracks, doubling of lines, upgrading signalling system, rail safety, besides a massive procurement programme for rolling stock (locomotives, wagons and coaches).
The rail EPC division of Texmaco achieved a turnover of Rs 537 crore in the last fiscal. In the current year, the division will especially focus on execution of new contracts of WDFCC and other large projects. The other divisions of Texmaco like Hydro Mechanical and Steel Foundry have shown improved performance during the year and are expected to progress further.
Texmaco will plan to penetrate the international rail market, primarily Africa, Middle East and West Asia. Also, concrete steps will be taken to tap huge opportunities available in rail safety and component market, and defence production.
@EPC World Media
