The government is going to introduce electric train service in the country using surplus power from 2021 to provide hassle free journey for the people. Bangladesh Railway sources said the ministry has planned to introduce the train service in new rail routes in the country. Already the ministry has selected three routes which are Dhaka to Bhanga, Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar and Khulna to Mongla port. All the three routes are now under construction.
About the matter, Railways minister Nurul Islam Sujan said, “We have discussed about introducing electric train service in the country with the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The premier has agreed to our plan and has instructed us to take step for introducing it,” he added. The minister further said the ministry has already started working to introduce train service using electricity.
On July 17, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has a plan to introduce electric and high-speed trains in the country to make the railway services better and faster. “We've a plan to generate more electricity as we're now producing 22,000MW...we'll be able to introduce electric trains in near future...we'll set up rail lines for remote areas as well to introduce speedy trains for easier communications,” she said. The government has taken up projects to introduce train service including bullet and electric train in the country.
For the first time in the country’s history, the government is going to construct ballastless railway track on the elevated expressway under Padma Rail Link project. The ballastless track is to be constructed over the Padma Bridge to connect Dhaka with Jashore. Once the construction work of the ballastless elevated viaduct rail line is completed, it will also support operating bullet train. Comparatively more durable than traditional rail track, this track on which trains will run at 300 kilometres per hour (kmph) will serve the passengers with high-speed rail service.
The first phase of the project will establish rail link between Mawa and Bhanga via Janjira and Shibchar through the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. Gradually, it will connect Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Narail and Jashore. The government is going to introduce electric train service of 23km rail routes from Dhaka to Narayanganj routes. The government has already done preliminary works for constructing the Dhaka-Chattogram high-speed rail route.
The high speed train service (Standard Gauge High Speed Train) will offer commuters fastest and world-class journey. The high-speed train will run on 230-kilometre Dhaka-Chattogram via Cumilla/Laksham route. Once the project is completed, the distance between the two cities can be covered in less than two hours. At present, it takes at least six hours to cover the distance.
Officials of BR said that Tk 50,000-crore project would be implemented under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement with China, and is scheduled to be completed by 2022. Meanwhile, construction of the 102-km Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar dual gauge track is going on in full swing.
The rail line from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar, expected to be completed by 2022, will facilitate quick travel to the world’s longest sea beach from the capital. Neighboring India, Nepal and Bhutan will also be connected to Cox’s Bazar through the existing Dhaka-Kolkata rail route after the completion of the project.
The new link will also form part of the Trans-Asian Rail Route connecting Bangladesh with its other regional neighbours including China, Myanmar and Thailand. The project is being implemented at a cost of Tk 18,034 crore of which the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing Tk12, 000 crore in assistance.