As the government eyes to bring every district under modern railway network, a feasibility study will be conducted immediately on operating a bullet train on Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina made the disclosure on Friday at a post budget press briefing at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
She said the feasibility study to operate Dhaka-Chattogram high speed trains is in progress. Besides, steps have been taken to construct 1,110.50 km dual gauge double rail track (km) and 52 new rail track (km), procure 100 locomotives, construct 2 ICDs, procure locomotive simulators, construct 3 major bridges, procure 1,120 passenger coaches, modernize/construct 3 railway workshops, and modernize the signaling system under various development projects.
It is to be noted, a modern, safe and environment-friendly transportation and communication infrastructure is required to sustain economic development, and achieve a higher growth for the country. Considering communication infrastructure, especially the railway, as one of the priority sectors, the government has taken up and is implementing numerous projects and allocated Tk 12599 crore for 2018-19 fiscal.
The Prime Minister said the government is developing of Passenger- friendly Railway System in the country. And attaching a top priority to the railway sector in order to make railway an economical, safe and environment- friendly mode of transport. The government has undertaken a 30-year master plan spanning from 2016 to 2045 at a cost of Tk. 5,53,662 crore. As many as 230 projects have been identified under this plan for implementation by 2045, she informed.
Activities, such as expansion of the railway service, construction of new railway lines and rehabilitation of rail tracks, conversion of rail line into Dual Gauge, opening of new rail stations and reopening of closed stations, launching of new trains, improving the quality of railway services and procurement of train coaches, are underway.
The introduction of e-ticketing has not only eased railway travel for passengers, but also made it possible for them to easily learn the location of trains.
