Tk18,072cr proposed for railway ministry

The government has allocated Tk 18,072 crore for the Ministry of Railway in the proposed budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25.

The allocation is Tk 1,004 core more than the revised budget of Tk 19,010 crore of the previous FY2023-24, reports BSS.

In his speech, Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Thursday said the total area of the railway has increased by one and a half times from 2,356 km to 3,486 km.

“We are working to develop the railway sector as a cost-effective and safe means of transportation of passengers and goods. In the last fifteen years, 947.99 km of new railway lines were constructed in the country, 340 km of meter-gauge railway lines were converted into dual-gauge, 1,391 km of railway lines were rehabilitated/reconstructed, 148 new station buildings were constructed, 238 station buildings were rehabilitated/reconstructed, construction of 1,062 new railway bridges, rehabilitation/reconstruction of 794 railway bridges, improvement of signalling system at 137 stations and 144 new trains including Chilahati Express have been launched,” he said.

Besides, steps have been taken to implement several projects following the Bangladesh Railway Master Plan, Eighth Five Year and 2nd Perspective Plan, Sustainable Development Goals and Election Manifesto of 2024, Ali said.

A newly constructed 64.75 km broad-gauge railway line has been inaugurated after the completion of construction work from Khulna to Mongla Sea Port. It will establish the connection of Mongla Sea Port with the rail link of Padma Bridge under the existing Bangladesh railway network and will help establish communication with the South-Western region and increase the import-export activities of Mongla Sea Port. Besides, construction of a 72 km dual line will be completed from the Akhaura to the Laksam section.

Meanwhile, the finance minister said that with the new rail link from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar, the section is likely to serve as a major part of the Trans-Asian Railway and sub-regional corridor. It is to be noted that in the next fiscal year, new 20 meter-gauge diesel electro locomotives as well as 150 meter-gauge passenger carriages will be added and 100 rehabilitated MG passenger carriages will be added to the rail transport.