The government has taken a policy decision to convert all railway lines of Bangladesh into broad gauge in order to develop an advanced and modern railway communication system.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said this at an agreement signing ceremony organized at the Rai Bhaban on Tuesday.
The minister said: “We have decided in principle to convert the entire country's rail lines to single gauge. For this purpose, all meter gauges will be gradually converted to broad gauge.”
Regarding the consultancy services, the railway minister said that the Railways ministry is working with the objective of building its own consultancy firm with all the officers who are leaving the service. By this, the country's own capacity will be developed.
Besides, the money of the country will be saved, said Sujan.
In the event, he also said that short, medium and long-term plans have been adopted till 2045. Railways are being developed with a view to developing a balanced communication system. In 2011, the government made a separate ministry for the development of the railway system.
“Traditionally we have had a rugged, fragile rail system. From there, initiatives have been taken to rearrange the railway line,” said the minister.
A joint consultancy agreement has been signed with Bangladesh Railways for the development of the railway communication system. The concerned project director Md Mahbubur Rahman signed the agreement on behalf of the railways and GM UG Asano of Oriental Consultancy Global Company Limited (Japan) signed the agreement on behalf of the joint consultancy firm.
The project will be implemented with a total of Tk235.37 crore with the financing of Development Bank and Government of Bangladesh.
The minister mentioned: “consultancy services are being appointed to carry out feasibility studies and detailed designs on many of our important projects.”
He said that the country's most important Hardinge Bridge has crossed the centenary. Verification and detailed design for construction of a new bridge besides Hardinge Bridge, construction of cord line on Narayanganj- Comilla/Laksam route, if it is constructed Dhaka-Chittagong distance will be reduced by 91 km.
A deal has been signed for feasibility study and detailed design of 11 projects.
