Bangladesh Railway (BR) plans to take on 19 new projects, including two on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor involving Tk 333.08 billion, to improve the train-movement capacity of its eastern and western zones.
It has already spent over Tk 100 billion on developing double lines on the 321km Dhaka-Chattogram section during the Awami League government's term, instead of laying dual-gauge tracks.
Sources say due to a lack of BR's visionary steps, additional funds and time are now needed to increase the capacity of this key corridor.
After completing the Dhaka-Chattogram section with metre-gauge, double-track lines under different projects, dual-gauge tracks have only been developed between Akhaura and Laksam.
The railway says dual-gauge track development on the Laksam-Chinki Astana-Chattogram section at a cost of Tk 187.21 billion, and Tongi-Bhairab Bazar-Akhaura for Tk 145.87 billion, will be included in this fiscal year.
Officials say of the new projects, the capacity increase of rolling stock, including the management and maintenance of locomotives and carriages along with new procurement, and tracks is among the priority ones to be taken up in the next fiscal year.
Three of the projects have been sent to the Planning Commission for approval, but the rest are at different stages of formulation and sourcing funds from development partners.
Besides, sources say the railway is set to complete six of the total 32 projects under implementation in FY26.
Of these, constructing double lines on the Khulna-Darsana section; procuring 20 metre-gauge, diesel electric locomotives and 150 metre-gauge carriages; and developing dual-gauge tracks between Akhaura and Laksam will be declared closed.
Though work on the project of constructing lines on the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar section via Ramu and Ramu-Gundum near Myanmar ended without completing the Ramu-Gundum part, its deadline will be extended for a year due to the defects liability period, sources say.
Among the other new projects, the railway prioritises rolling stock (carriage) management and maintenance, electric traction development on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Gazipur section, Joydebpur-Mymensingh-Jamalpur dual-gauge track development, and rehabilitation and reconstruction of eastern and western zones.
Officials say development partners for these projects are confirmed.
Other projects include Syedpur Railway Workshop capacity building, modernisation, and expansion, as well as 260 broad-gauge coach procurement, which have yet to get funding assurances.
Officials say development project proposals for three projects have been sent to the Planning Commission.
They are Nabharan-Bhomra broad-gauge track development through Satkhira, western zone track maintenance and rehabilitation, and rolling stock (carriage) development, management, and maintenance.
smunima@yahoo.com
