In the financial year 2024-25, 20 new meter gauge diesel electro locomotives and 150 meter gauge passenger carriages will be added to the railways. A rehabilitated 100 MG passenger carriage will be added.
Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali said this while announcing the budget in Parliament on Thursday (June 6).
In the budget speech, the minister said, it is hoped that this will increase the quality of passenger service, freight transport capacity, operational efficiency and revenue of the railways.
The minister said that the 64.75 km broad gauge railway line from Khulna to Mongla seaport has been inaugurated after the construction work. It will establish the connection of Mongla sea port with the rail connection of Padma bridge under the existing Bangladesh railway network and will be helpful in establishing communication with the southwestern region and increasing the import-export activities of Mongla sea port. Besides, the construction of 72 km dual line from Akhaura to Laksam section will be completed. In the meantime, with the new rail link from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar, the section has the potential to serve as a major part of the Trans-Asian Railway and sub-regional corridor.
Mentioning that the government is working for the development of the railway sector as a cost-effective and safe means of transporting passengers and goods, the minister said that in the last 15 years, 947.99 kilometers of new railway lines have been constructed in the country, 340 kilometers of meter gauge railway lines have been converted into dual gauge, 1 thousand 391 kilometers of railway lines have been rehabilitated and reconstructed, 148 Construction of new station buildings, rehabilitation/reconstruction of 238 station buildings, construction of 1,62 new railway bridges, rehabilitation-reconstruction of 794 railway bridges, development of signaling system at 137 stations and 144 new trains including Chilahati Express. In addition, initiatives have been taken to implement several projects according to Bangladesh Railway Master Plan, Eighth Five Year and 2nd Perspective Plan or Sustainable Development Goals and Election Manifesto 2024.
NS/MHR/JIM
