Considering the importance of the Bangladesh railways as comfortable, affordable, safe and low-cost transport for passengers, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has proposed for the railways ministry Tk 0.18 trillion in the national budget for fiscal 2022-23 (FY22).
Placing the budget in the House on Thursday (today), he said the government has taken a range of steps to ensure balanced and integrated development of the sector and increased allocation.
"As part of the 30-year revised Master Plan (2016-2045) of the Bangladesh Railway, steps have been taken for connecting Dhaka with Cox's Bazar, Mongla Port, Tungipara, Barisal, Chattogram Hill Tracts and other parts of the country under the railway network," Kamal said.
He said the master plan initiatives are; establishing Trans-Asian Railway and Regional Railway Network and connecting important cities with the nearest suburbs by introducing modern commuter train services, reports BSS.
"Under this master plan, 230 projects will be implemented in six phases at a cost of Tk 5.50 trillion, while 798.09 km of new railway lines, 897 km of dual gauge/double railway lines parallel to existing railway lines, renovation of 846.51 km of railway lines, construction of nine important railway bridges will be constructed under the 8th Five-Year Plan," Kamal said.
He said under the plan, modern maintenance equipment, 160 locomotives, 1,704 passenger coaches will be procured and improved signaling system at 222 stations, strengthened railway management and developed financial management activities.
The finance minister said the overall progress of Padma Multipurpose Rail Link Project is 58 per cent while the overall progress of construction work of the double track dual gauge railway bridge on the river Jamuna is 40 per cent.
Moreover, 71 per cent construction work of the single line dual gauge track from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu and Ramu to Gundum, near Myanmar border, were completed, According to the budget speech.
It said around 90 per cent work of the Khulna-Mongla railway project was completed, while construction work of Rupsha Rail Bridge is nearly completed.
Besides, the government has also taken initiatives to build railway line from Bhanga in Faridpur to Payra port via Barisal and Patuakhali to connect Payra Port with Padma Rail Link, the finance minister added.
The finance minister said Tk 39.24 billion was proposed for operating (non-development) expenditure and Tk 149.29 billion for development expenditure of the railways ministry.