Feasibility study, design completed for Chattogram-Dhaka electric train: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government has completed the feasibility study and detailed design for introducing electric trains on Chattogram-Dhaka corridor to reduce travel time and improve connectivity between the two most important cities.

“The feasibility study and detailed design for installing electric traction to operate electric trains on the Chattogram-Dhaka corridor have already been completed,” he said while replying to a starred question from Chattogram-12 MP Mohammad Enamul Haque during the question-answer session in Parliament.

The Prime Minister said the detailed implementation plan and timeline for the project would be determined after securing the necessary financing.

“The project will be taken up for implementation subject to securing funding. Once implemented, electric trains can be operated on the Chattogram-Dhaka corridor, increasing the average speed of trains and reducing travel time,” he said.

Tarique also said a feasibility study and detailed design are underway for constructing a chord line from Dhaka to Cumilla to shorten the distance between Dhaka and Chattogram.

“Once implemented, the distance between Dhaka and Chattogram will be reduced and the average speed will increase, allowing people to travel between the two cities in less time,” he said.

The government has also taken steps to convert the Dhaka-Chattogram railway into a dual-gauge double line, the Prime Minister said.

As part of the initiative, feasibility studies and detailed designs for constructing dual-gauge double lines on the Tongi-Akhaura and Laksam-Chattogram sections have already been completed.

Laksam-Chattogram Dual Gauge Double Line Development Project is currently being processed for approval, while preparation of the Development Project Proforma (DPP) for the Tongi-Akhaura project is at its final stage, the Prime Minister said.

“I hope that once these two projects are implemented, Bangladesh Railway’s passenger transport capacity and train speeds on the Chattogram-Dhaka corridor will increase,” he said.

The parliamentary session began at 3:30pm with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the chair.

The first half-hour of the session was allocated for the Prime Minister’s question-answer session.