[🇧🇩] Bangladesh Railway

[Bilal9]

Dhaka Bypass Expressway is a 48 km under construction controlled-access highway located in the division of Dhaka in Bangladesh. The project constitutes a segment of the Asian Highway network.



You can check the progress of other projects from the following links:

Dhaka Elevated Expressway: • Dhaka Elevated Express way

Purbachal Expressway: • Purbachal Express Way

Airport Terminal 3: • airport 3rd terminal

Padma Rail Link: • Padma Rail Link

Metrorail: • Metro rail

Dhaka Bypass Expressway: • Dhaka Bypass Expressway

BRT Line 3 Project: • BRT LINE - 3

Madani Avenue Expressway: • madani avenue express way

Flyovers of Bangladesh: • flyover

Update of the country's highways: • highway

Oil and Gas Projects: • Oil and gas projects

Modern Bangladesh and its cities: • Cities of Bangladesh and their attractions

 

[Bilal9]

Padma Bridge Rail Link Project update

 

[Saif]

Every district to get rail station, Minister Zillul Hakim says

Rail stations will be built in every district of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to realise Bangabandhu’s dream, Railway Minister Zillul Hakim said on Saturday. All stations and lines will be renovated to facilitate connectivity in the public i

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Every district to get rail station, Minister Zillul Hakim says
UNB
Published :
May 18, 2024 23:12
Updated :
May 18, 2024 23:12

Rail stations will be built in every district of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to realise Bangabandhu's dream, Railway Minister Zillul Hakim said on Saturday.

All stations and lines will be renovated to facilitate connectivity in the public interest, he said.

He said this while visiting the site office of the broad gauge railway construction project from Madhukhali via Kamarkhali to Magura this afternoon and inspecting the progress of the project.

Later, the minister visited the under- construction railway bridge on Madhumati River, broad gauge railway and Magura's Ramnagar Thakurbari railway station areas.

Lawmaker Dr Biren Shikder, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Dr. Md Humayun Kabir, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abu Naser Baig, Superintendent of Police Mashiudullah Reza, Magura District Council Chairman and District Awami League General Secretary Pankaj Kumar Kundu, were also present.​

 

[Saif]

Project gets one-year extension to June 2025 with Tk 35.44m funds

The government has extended the execution deadline of the Padma Bridge railway link project with a substantial allocation of Tk 35.44 billion in the next development budget, officials said on Saturday. As the Bangladesh Railway (BR) failed to construct the 172-km railway line, a 'fast-track' mega

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Project gets one-year extension to June 2025 with Tk 35.44m funds
FHM HUMAYAN KABIR
Published :
May 19, 2024 00:13
Updated :
May 19, 2024 00:13

The government has extended the execution deadline of the Padma Bridge railway link project with a substantial allocation of Tk 35.44 billion in the next development budget, officials said on Saturday.

As the Bangladesh Railway (BR) failed to construct the 172-km railway line, a 'fast-track' mega project within its stipulated six-year period ending in June 2024, the government has to extend the deadline by one more year up to June 2025, they said.

The BR also failed to spend Tk 55 billion funds allocated under the current Annual Development Programme (ADP) and surrendered Tk 7.14 billion in the revised ADP two months ago.

Railway ministry officials said that although the construction of 82km Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga section has already been completed, the Bhanga-Jashore section requires more time to complete the entire project.

"The BR has already surrendered 13 per cent of its annual development budget due to the implementation failure," said a senior official at the Planning Commission.

The government in May 2016 undertook the mega project at a cost of Tk 349.89 billion and set a target to complete it on a fast-track basis by June 2022.

Of the total cost, Tk 102.398 billion was supposed to come from the internal resources while Tk 247.49 billion from the external resources as project assistance from the Chinese government on G-to-G basis.

But the BR has failed to start the physical work even in two years, compelling the government to revise the project in May 2018 with raising the cost to Tk 392.47 billion.

When asked, a senior PC official said it is frustrating to note that the BR is failing repeatedly to complete its projects in time, resulting in a time and cost overrun.

Although the Padma Bridge railway link is one of the 'fast-track' projects of the government, the implementing agency's delay in completion of the entire work pushed up the cost by Tk 42.58 billion, he added.

If the project could be completed timely, the people would have enjoyed services before the current schedule and the project could be completed at costs estimated initially, the PC official added.

Meanwhile, the PC last week approved the Tk 2.65 trillion ADP for FY2024-25 where it allocated Tk 35.44 billion funds for the struggling railway link project.

Out of the outlay, Tk 17.75 billion will be provided by the Chinese EXIM bank and the remaining Tk 17.69 billion from the government's internal resources.

The railway link is a flagship project for Bangladesh as the country's less-developed southwestern region was connected to the capital city by roads via the Padma Bridge.

In August 2016, the BR appointed a Chinese contractor to build the rail link from Dhaka to Jashore via the Padma Bridge and Bhanga in Faridpur.

The railway has begun commercial operations on the Dhaka-Bhanga section.

"However, full-track installation will require additional time," said a BR official, adding, "Once completed, the project will connect the underdeveloped southern districts with the developed central region."

The single-track line is designed for a maximum speed of 120 km per hour. The rail corridor via the bridge provides a direct rail link between Dhaka and southern areas, especially Mongla seaport and Benapole land port.

The total track length is 215.22 km, including a 172km broad-gauge main line and 43.22 km of loops and sidings.

The BR will also import 100 broad-gauge passenger coaches under the project.​

 

[Saif]

Govt presses on costly project for electric railway

Bangladesh Railway is pressing on with a costly plan for introducing electric traction system along Narayanganj-Dhaka-Chattogram and...

www.newagebd.net

Govt presses on costly project for electric railway
Shahin Akhter 20 May, 2024, 00:14

Bangladesh Railway is pressing on with a costly plan for introducing electric traction system along Narayanganj-Dhaka-Chattogram and Tongi-Joydevpur sections.

The final feasibility study report of a proposed project, presented on Sunday, estimated that the total project cost would be $781,794,583.

As per the dollar rate of Sunday, the amount will be about Tk 9,107 crore in Bangladesh currency.

The report was presented at a meeting held at Rail Bhaban in the capital.

The feasibility study was completed eight years after an initiative had been taken. Earlier in 2016, the railway took an initiative to conduct a feasibility study for introducing electric traction (including overhead catenary and sub-stations) between Narayanganj-Dhaka-Chattogram and Tongi-Joydevpur section of Bangladesh Railway.

On July 16, 2023, the railway inked a contract with Ankara-based TUMAS Turkish Engineering, Consulting and Contracting Company to conduct the feasibility study and prepare a detailed design for the proposed project at a cost of $5,24,050 which was funded fully by the Bangladesh government.

The main objective of the study was to find out whether the traction would be technically, economically, financially, environmentally and socially viable.

The report found the proposed project beneficial to the country economically and to the railway financially.

The final feasibility study was done on 348.16 kilometres of tracks out of which 336.89 kilometres had been on railway line on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Chattogram section and 11.27km on the Tongi-Joydevpur section.

The proposed project has scope to covert 348.16km-track with 70 stations to the electric traction system which is proposed to be completed by 2032 and the scheduled operation will start in 2033.

By using the system, there will be an increase in freight traffic and the huge rate of return on capital, decrease of pressure on the road transport, transport mobility with savings in fuel consumption, green transportation, decrease in running cost, improve average speed and achieve compatibility with Trans-Asian railway network.

Under the proposed project there will be two types of line, main and commuter, while the train speed will be 120km per hour which can be upgraded later, the project director Md Habibur Rahman told New Age on Sunday.

For the commuter line, the capital cost estimation stood at $255,168,790 and for the main line the estimation stood at $526,625,793, said the report.

The report's economical and financial analysis both for the main and commuter lines for passengers from road network and trains users will gain time with new system, the report added.

The study also proposed for two workshops– one at Pahartali and another at Joydevpur.

Railway will finalise tendering works for phase 1 in 2026 and will start operating with electric fraction on 2028 (Commuter).

For phase 2, railway will finalise tendering works for phase 2 in 2030 and will start operating with electric traction on 2033 (Main Line).

The BR will finalise Phase 3A tendering works for 2026 and will add new rolling stock to inventory at 2028 (Commuter) and it will finalise Phase 3B tendering works for 2030 and will add new rolling stock to inventory in 2033 (Main Line).

Under the environmental considerations, there will be some limited negative effects in construction period such as catenary pole fountain digging, material transport emission and additional dust, it added.​

 

[Saif]

Contract inked to buy 200 carriages for railway

The railways authorities on Monday inked a contract with an India-based manufacture and supply company to procure 200 broad gauge carriages for the...

www.newagebd.net

Contract inked to buy 200 carriages for railway
Staff Correspondent 21 May, 2024, 00:31

The railways authorities on Monday inked a contract with an India-based manufacture and supply company to procure 200 broad gauge carriages for the Bangladesh Railway to improve communications in the country's southern region.

At the contract signing ceremony, railways minister Zillul Hakim urged expeditious effort from the railway officials to bring these coaches in Bangladesh.

'Our officials are efficient but slow,' he said, adding, 'they don't believe that it's possible to get carriages within 2–3 months and think that it would take 5–6 months,' he said, adding that it was unfortunate for him.

As per the contract, the delivery of the carriages is scheduled to start within 20 months from the effective date of contract and commissioning works to be completed within 36 months from the effective date of contract.

At a ceremony held at the Rail Bhaban in the capital the Bangladesh Railway and RITES Limited, India, signed the contract under a project titled 'Procurement of 200 Broad Gauge Passenger Carriages for Bangladesh Railway'.

In the signing of the contract, project director Md Zaidul Islam and RITES Limited executive director Rajeev Chaudhary represented Bangladesh Railway and the Indian company respectively.

The contract price for these carriages is Tk 1,205.54 crore.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Draft rail law allows private train service

The railway authorities have prepared the draft Bangladesh Railway Bill, 2024, by keeping a provision for letting private companies own rolling stock to carry passengers, goods, and parcels...

www.newagebd.net

Draft rail law allows private train service
Shahin Akhter 23 May, 2024, 00:22

Representational image. | New Age photo

The railway authorities have prepared the draft Bangladesh Railway Bill, 2024, by keeping a provision for letting private companies own rolling stock to carry passengers, goods, and parcels.

The Bangladesh Railway will give approval to private companies to use railway tracks, signals, and other physical infrastructure in this regard, the draft said.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Bilal9]

Contract inked to buy 200 carriages for railway
Staff Correspondent 21 May, 2024, 00:31
View attachment 6019

The railways authorities on Monday inked a contract with an India-based manufacture and supply company to procure 200 broad gauge carriages for the Bangladesh Railway to improve communications in the country's southern region.

.........

At a ceremony held at the Rail Bhaban in the capital the Bangladesh Railway and RITES Limited, India, signed the contract under a project titled 'Procurement of 200 Broad Gauge Passenger Carriages for Bangladesh Railway'.

In the signing of the contract, project director Md Zaidul Islam and RITES Limited executive director Rajeev Chaudhary represented Bangladesh Railway and the Indian company respectively.

The contract price for these carriages is Tk 1,205.54 crore.

While I applaud the decision to buy broad-gauge passenger carriages, the decision to buy them from India (RITES) was fool-hardy and wrong.

We should have bought these from Indonesia, given past trouble-free record of Indonesian rail-carriage products and the exact opposite with Indian-made products.

Moreover - the incumbent religious-fanatic govt. in India is openly hostile and and inimical to the interest of Bangladesh and Bangladeshis everywhere, both in word and in deeds. There is absolutely no reason to encourage their behavior by supporting Indian products and imports into Bangladesh to the amount of 1200 crore.

BR people and ministers are as corrupt as ever.