Achal DEMU is active, new intercity train is launched – what is in the BNP government’s plan for rail

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During the ousted Awami League government, 20 sets of demos were bought for about Tk 600 crores. These trains, which were launched in 2013, became inoperable in three to seven years. Passenger transport earns little. But it costs more than that in fuel and maintenance. Later, despite various initiatives, the demo trains could not be kept running.

Railways have taken the initiative to reactivate these demo trains which have been idle after the formation of the BNP government. For this, two senior railway officials have also been given the responsibility to take necessary steps. Not only the DEMU is running, but a bunch of plans have also been taken around the railways, including the launch of new intercity trains, construction of railway lines, renovation of coaches and engines, purchase of new coaches and engines, privately launched trains on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route. These steps are being taken as part of the implementation of the manifesto of the current ruling BNP government.

Railways wants to implement these plans in short, medium and long term. For this, the Ministry of Railways and the Railway Authority held a meeting on April 1. In the meeting, the initiative or planning of starting trains, construction and renovation of railway lines, purchase and renovation of engine-carriage will be implemented or supervised by an official, the responsibility has also been distributed. The progress of the activities should be informed to the Ministry of Railways every 15 days. Railways has prepared a work plan of when any work will be done. In this short term first six months, medium term one year and long term five years have been considered.

Experts say that in the past billions of rupees were spent on railway construction and infrastructure, but people did not get the benefits. Due to uncoordinated project implementation, people’s hard-earned money has been wasted, no real development of railways. Therefore, the plan should be implemented in such a way that the people get its benefits.

According to railway data, more than Tk 1 lakh crore was invested in the development of railways during the last 15 and a half years of the Awami League government. Construction of new railway lines has cost more. But the new engine was not purchased in coordination with him. As a result, the number of running trains has decreased even though the railways have increased.

In the BNP manifesto given before the 13th National Assembly elections, the railway communication chapter said that railways will be revived as the central backbone of national transport. BNP’s manifesto calls for bringing all districts and major cities under integrated rail network. As part of this, electrification and construction of double lines in Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Panchgarh, Dhaka-Chapainawabganj corridors will be taken as a national mission. According to the manifesto, initiatives will be taken to establish monorail, metrorail and circular commuter lines in Dhaka and other metropolises.

A meeting was held in Dhaka on March 12 about BNP’s manifesto. A review meeting was then held at Rail Bhawan in Dhaka on the morning of April 1. Secretary of the Ministry of Railways at the meeting. Fahimul Islam said that one of the objectives of the government is to revive the railway as the central backbone of national transport through the expansion of internal and regional rail connectivity. Expansion and development of railways by increasing express services, modernizing railway management, encouraging public-private partnerships and establishing bullet train links are among the development strategies of the present government. According to the government’s election manifesto, the Ministry of Railways is working on preparing six-month, one-year and five-year action plans separately and determining the strategy for their implementation.

In 2013, 20 demo trains were purchased from China. The government spent about 600 crore rupees to buy DEMU. It has earned about 22 crore rupees by transporting passengers. About 30 crore rupees were spent on repairs and fuel.

Two engines on either side, a coach in the middle is a set of demos. Railways bought 20 sets of demos from China in 2013. However, after three years of launch, the demo became useless. Now all the demo trains are idle, lying at various railway stations.

In 2020-21, under the initiative of the railway engineering (mechanical) department, the engineer working in various contracting companies. Asaduzzaman repaired a set of demo trains at Parbatipur workshop. On September 9, 2022, then Railway Minister Nurul Islam inaugurated the trial run of the train. But after 15 days, one of the two engines of the demo train broke down.

As per the current operational plan of the Railways, Railways intends to convert the idle and unused demo trains of the Railways into serviceable commuter trains in the first four months (March to June). For this, a notification will be given for the selection of institutions interested in piloting and the institutions will be selected. In the next two months, the decommissioned and unused demo trains will be handed over to the selected institutions.

According to railway officials, the introduction of demo trains will enable more passengers to be transported over shorter distances. The Director General of Railways and the Additional Director General (Rolling Stock) have been given the responsibility of supervising these activities.

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Railways has planned to start intercity trains in a six-month action plan. Railways intends to start one intercity train on the Dhaka-Khulna route in the first four months and one on the Dhaka-Pabna route in the next two months. Railways aims to increase passenger transport and revenue.

Both these routes are covered by the Western Region of Railways. At present, a total of 35 pairs of intercity trains ply in this region. Among them two pairs or four intercity trains run on Dhaka-Khulna route and one pair on Dhaka-Pabna route.

The government plans to award contracts for maintenance of 30 meter gauge and 40 broad gauge locomotives or engines in the first six months. Apart from this, the Revised Development Project Proposal (DPP) for the dual gauge railway construction project from Bogra to Sirajganj funded by Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is expected to be approved.

If you want to know about the whole matter, the Director General of Railways. Afzal Hossain told Prothom Alo on the phone that what can be done in the first 180 days is being considered. Short, medium and long term plans are being taken as per the manifesto of the government. Pilot steps will be taken to launch at least one of the demo trains in the first 180 days. If successful, the rest will be rolled out in phases.

Railways plans to carry out feasibility studies and design work on multiple projects over a period of one year, i.e. in the financial year 2026-27. Among these, the Railways wants to carry out a feasibility study and design work on the long-discussed Dhaka-Comilla Cord Line (a short and straight railway line, which reduces distance and travel time). Apart from this, Santahar-Lalmonirhat section, Abdulpur-Rajshahi section wants to complete feasibility study and detailed design of dual gauge double railway line at this time.

Formulate and approve Feasibility Study Project on Construction of Double Rail Line on Dhaka-Panchgarh and Dhaka-Chapainawabganj Corridors. Apart from this, projects will be taken up to upgrade Laksam-Chittagong and Tongi-Akhaura sections to dual gauge.

To solve the problem of engine shortage in the eastern region, the Chittagong-Dohajari meter gauge railway will be tendered for the purchase of 30 engines or locomotives under the dual gauge railway conversion project and the contract will be signed with the supplier. Another project calls for tenders for the purchase of 30 engines and at the end of this process, it is said to sign a contract with the supplier. The pre-feasibility study of running trains including procurement of rolling stock (engine-coaches) in the private sector on the Dhaka-Chittagong route is expected to be completed within this one year.

At this time more importance has been given to project implementation. The Railways wants to complete 60 to 70 percent of the construction work of the 227 km dual gauge double line of Dhaka-Chittagong route from Tongi to Akhaura and Laksam-Chittagong section. Dhaka-Comilla distance is 90 km and travel time is reduced by 2 hours. Physical work will be started after completion of project approval, land acquisition contractor appointment process for construction of Dhaka-Comilla direct railway line (cord line).

The construction of the dual gauge double line on the Ishwardi-Joidebpur section, funded by JICA, is targeted for 80 percent completion by 2030. The construction of dual gauge railway line from Bogra to Sirajganj will be completed by 2030. Railways also wants to complete the construction of the third and fourth line from Dhaka to Tongi within this period.

Railways will complete 20 percent of the physical work after completing the design of the new bridge at Kalurghat, a long-standing demand of the people of Chittagong. The conversion of Chittagong-Dohazari meter gauge railway to dual gauge is also aimed at 30 percent. Apart from this, Railways wants to complete the recruitment and procurement process of contractors for purchase of 60 new meter gauge engines, 200 meter gauge coaches, 260 broad gauge coaches and 4 rescue trains. Feasibility study and detailed design of rail link from Mymensingh-Jamalpur section via Sherpur to Nakulgaon land port will also be done.