BR Masterplan: Riding on rail to a prosperous future

The government has taken a massive move to upgrade the railway network of the country, as the railway sector is considered to be the safest, most comfortable, affordable and environment-friendly means for transporting passengers and goods among land communication systems.

Considering the importance of railways as a means of public transport in meeting the demands of the country's large population, the government has been taking a range of steps to ensure balanced and integrated development of the sector. 

As part of the 30 year revised master plan (2016-2045) of Bangladesh Railway, Cox's Bazar, Mongla Port, Tungipara, Barisal, Chattogram Hill Tracts and other parts of the country will be brought under the railway network. The plan spans the period earmarked for Bangladesh, having graduated to become a middle-income nation, to take the next step and become a prosperous nation (Vision 2041).

Also Read- Eid ticketing: Railways’ e-ticket creates havoc

Under the master plan, 230 projects will be implemented in six phases at a cost of Tk. 553,662 crore - nearly the size of the entire national budget passed recently for the 2021-22 fiscal year. 

According to an official document, the government is going to construct 798.09 km of new railway lines, as well as 897 km of dual gauge/double railway lines parallel to existing railway lines.

It will also rehabilitate 886.51 km of railway lines, construct nine important railway bridges, and construct level crossings.

 Apart from these, the construction and modernization of 160 new locomotives, 1,704 passenger coaches, procurement of modern maintenance equipment, improvement of signaling system at 222 stations, strengthening of railway management and financial management development activities will be carried out.

File photo shows a general view of the automated sleeper manufacturing factory which will supply 370,000 railway sleepers for the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project. Picture taken on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

All these activities will fall  under the eighth Five Year Plan (2021-2025), which targets 8% GDP growth on average over the next five years. It also aims to reduce the poverty rate to 15.6% by the end of this period.

The Mitali Express was inaugurated on March 27, 2021 to carry passengers on the Dhaka-Chilahati-Haldibari route between India and Bangladesh. 

 Six new trains have been introduced on different routes, and an agreement has been signed to purchase 150 passenger coaches. 

 The approval of the revised manpower structure with 47,703 posts in the organogram is in the process, which will enhance the quality of service offered by BR, the document stated. 

 Among the major projects being implemented in the railway sector, about 40% of the Padma Bridge Rail Link project, about 57% of the Chattogram-Dohazari- Ghumdum railway project and about 77.75% of the Mongla-Khulna railway project have been completed. 

Also Read- Special cattle trains ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

In addition, the document said, implementation of the Jamuna Rail Bridge and Rupsha Rail Bridge projects are at an advanced stage.

 Projects have been taken up to establish Padma Bridge Rail Link, to link up with the Trans-Asian Railway and Regional Railway Network, and connect nearest suburbs with important cities like Dhaka, Chattogram, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Sylhet, etc. by introducing improved commuter train service. 

The Trans-Asian Railway network, which was initiated in the 1960s, comprises 114,000 km of rail routes of international importance. It aims to offer efficient rail transport services for goods and passengers within the ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) region and between Asia and Europe.