Railway’s daily passengers expected to double in 2 years

If the ongoing development projects are completed within the stipulated time, then the number of daily train passengers will rise to 5 lakh from 2.5 lakh after two years, said sources at the Railways Ministry.

They said all the districts will eventually come under the railway network on implementation of Bangladesh Railway's expansion projects.

Currently, there are 53 such expansion projects under the Railway's annual development programme and 46 of those are investment ones.

After Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to the Railways Ministry in October 2014, they said, 31 projects have been taken as per her directive, out of which 11 have been completed, while nine partially completed and 11 more are under implementation.

Director general of Bangladesh Railway Md Amjad Hossain said they have the capacity to handle 2.5 lakh commuters every day.

He said if most of the ongoing projects are finished in the next two years they will be able to provide services to 5 lakh commuters.

The DG said the country will be able to experience substantial changes in the railway sector once the projects are completed. He also said a masterplan from 2010-2030 was undertaken, but it was recently revised till 2046. "There have been significant developments in the railway sector in the last few years with trains running in time, inclusion of new trains, upgradation of older trains with new locomotives and coaches," he said.

Railways Minister Mazibul Haque told UNB the railway sector is being given a lot more emphasis than before as per the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "We want to make the railroads more comfortable and quicker for commuters."

The demand for railroad communication has been growing day by day, said the minister adding that they are introducing newer train services and additional coaches.

A total 112 new trains have been added to the rail fleet with 34 new train services during the last eight years. Besides, 20 demu trains from China have recently been added to the fleet.

Efforts are also underway to revive old routes which were previously closed down, Mazibul said.

Currently, 44 districts are under their network coverage.

Sources at the Railways Ministry said the projects which are slated to complete by 2022 will ensure that Munshiganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Meherpur, Satkhira, Barisal, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar and Narail come under the rail network.

The masterplan, if implemented, will incorporate Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Jhalakati, Patuakhali and Barguna districts under the rail network, with the other remaining districts soon to follow.

Two other ongoing projects are 2024 crore project to bring Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara under rail network and Tk 3802 crore project to bring Khulna-Mongla port under the rail connectivity.

Besides, four other projects have recently been approved to bring Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara, Khulna-Mongla Port, Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar-Gundam (Myanmar), Navaron-Satkhira-Munshiganj, Darshana-Damurhuda (Chuadanga)-Mujibnagar-Meherpur and Dhaka-Padma Bridge-Jessore under the rail network.