Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the government has approved a mega plan involving Taka 2,33,944.21 crore for Bangladesh Railway (BR) to develop and improve its service and plan-wise network.
“The duration of the mega plan is 20 years from July 2010 to 2030 for implementation to improve the BR and its services,” she said the Jatiya Sangsad, while replying to a question from treasury bench member Enamul Haque. Sheikh Hasina said 41 projects involving Taka 25,389.60 crore are under implementation to improve various sectors of the railway. She informed the House that Awami League government has undertaken various plans to improve the communication system, adding, “The government is working relentlessly to implement those plans.”
The mega plan includes 235 projects, which would be implemented in four phases to bring 15 more districts under the railway network, the Prime Minister said.
She said the present government during its last regime installed 35-kilometre new railway track and completed rehabilitation work of 180-kilometre. The government also launched 45 new trains on different routes including Dhaka-Rangpur and Dhaka-Chittagong sections along with expansion of BR’s service on 10 railway routes, Sheikh Hasina added.
She said the government has upgraded 101-kilometre railway line into dual gauge from metre gauge and undertaken initiative to introduce DEMO train service in different routes.
Besides, the government has also undertaken a mega project to construct metro rail in the capital city to smoothly carry the city dwellers, the Prime Minister told the House.
