Maddhapara mine hits record 150,000 tonnes of stone output in October

Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited in Dinajpur has set a new production record, extracting more than 150,000 tonnes of stone in October, with average daily production reaching nearly 6,000 tonnes on working days.
Mine officials said the achievement marked the highest monthly output since the mine began commercial operations.
Production increased after Germania-Trast Consortium (GTC), responsible for the mine's development and operation, took charge and introduced technical and management measures with the assistance of foreign mining experts, sources said.
Initially, the mine produced only 400 to 500 tonnes of stone a day, failing to meet demand and incurring losses for years. Production improved after GTC assumed responsibility, helping the mine move towards profitability, officials said.
A recent visit to the mine showed that more than 1.5 million tonnes of stone of various sizes are now stockpiled at different locations within the mine.
The increased output has created opportunities to use locally produced stone in infrastructure projects and reduce foreign currency expenditure on imports.
However, high transportation costs remain a major obstacle to sales. 
Stakeholders said renovating the railway line from Bhabanipur to Maddhapara would reduce transport costs and facilitate the supply of stone to different parts of the country. They urged the authorities to take steps to restore the railway connection, saying it would improve marketing and increase the mine's revenue.
Local residents said the initiative to establish the mine was taken by late president Ziaur Rahman. The project lost momentum after his death but gained fresh impetus after the BNP formed the government in 1991.
Managing Director of Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited Engineer DM Zobaid Hossain said the mine authority and the contractor were working together to increase production.
“Necessary measures have been taken to boost domestic production. The mine's production and overall activities are being carried out in line with the policy guidelines of the current government,” he said.
Mine workers and stakeholders expressed hope that continued government support, along with improved transportation and marketing facilities, would help sustain production growth and make the mine a profitable enterprise.