230 projects, Tk 553,662 crore in rail masterplan: Railway minister

Railways Minister Zillul Hakim on Monday told Parliament that a total of 230 projects involving Tk 553,662 crore have been undertaken under the Railway Master Plan till 2045.
 
The projects include Construction of circular railways around Dhaka, Introduction of Electric Traction in Narayanganj-Dhaka-Chattogram, and Construction of Chordline in Narayanganj-Laksam (Cumilla).

The minister said this while responding to a question from Awami League MP Ali Azam in the House. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury tabled the question-answer session at the beginning of the day's business started at 4:00 pm.

Zillul Hakim said an agreement was signed with a consultancy firm Tumas-Turkish Engineering and Consulting Company,  on July 16 last conduct the feasibility study and make a detailed design for introduction of electric traction (including construction of overhead catenary and sub-stations) from Narayanganj to Dhaka to Chittagong. The field-level work of the project is ongoing, he added.

He said 40 locomotives with Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) will be added to Bangladesh Railways to reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

In reply to another question from independent lawmaker Muhammad Saiful Islam, the Railways Minister said some 6,840.61 acres of railway lands are under illegal occupation in the country.

Of the lands, the highest 5,035.12 acres of land are occupied in Pakshi, while 1,468.10 in Lalmonirhat, 216.89 in Chittagong and 120.50 acres in Dhaka, he said.

"Eviction drives are carried out against illegal occupants and the lands are leased out through tenders," said Zillul Hakim.

Answering a question from Independent MP Mohammad Huchamuddin Chowdhury, the Railway Minister said the procurement of 350 meter-gauge and 300 broad-gauge coaches and 100 meter-gauge and 40 broad-gauge locomotives is under process.

Responding to a question from Awami League lawmaker Faridun Nahar Laily, Zillul Hakim said 161 out of 306 engines of Bangladesh Railway are expired. The remaining 233 engines are in operation, he added.