Massive Bangladesh Railway overhaul schemes in the offing

National Desk//

The government has taken a massive move to upgrade the country’s railway network as the sector is considered as the safest, comfortable, affordable and environment-friendly means for transporting passengers and goods, reports UNB.

According to an official document, considering the importance of the railway sector the government wants to implement several projects “to ensure a balanced and integrated development”.

All these activities will be done under the 8th Five Year Plan (2021-2025), which targets to achieve 8.51 percent GDP growth with yearly 8 percent growth on average in the next five years. The plan also envisages reducing the poverty rate to 15.6 percent at the end of the deadline.

Under the 8th Five-Year Plan, comprehensive steps will be taken for construction of 798.09 km new railway lines, 897 km of dual gauge/double railway lines parallel to existing railway lines and renovation of 846.51 km of railway network.

It also includes construction of nine important railway bridges and other infrastructural development schemes including level crossing gates, construction of domestic container depos, building and modernisation of repair and maintenance outlets.

The document says that under the 8th Five-Year Plan there will be procurement of 160 locomotives, 1,704 passenger coaches, modern maintenance equipment, improvement of signaling system at 222 stations and strengthening of railway management.