Two major projects launched to make rail journeys more comfortable: Minister

Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam today (26 April) told parliament that the government has undertaken two major projects to prevent accidents and make train travel more secure and comfortable for passengers.

The projects are Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Railway Tracks in Bangladesh Railway East Zone and Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Railway Tracks in Bangladesh Railway West Zone.

"Once the two projects are implemented, it will be possible to operate trains more safely and properly by avoiding accidents, enhancing passenger security and making train journeys more comfortable," said the minister while replying to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Mosharraf Hossain (Bogura-4).

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad tabled the question-and-answer session.

The railways minister said tenders have already been invited under two packages for the eastern zone project, with bids opened on 8 April and evaluation now underway.

Contractors will be appointed after the process is completed, he said.

For the western zone project, he said approval of the Development Project Proposal (DPP) is under process for consideration by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), he said.

In reply to another tabled question from ruling party lawmaker Md Jalal Uddin (Chandpur-2), the minister also outlined a broad range of steps taken to modernise Bangladesh Railway and improve passenger services.

Rabiul Alam said beautification works have been completed at important railway stations while all district stations will be remodeled in phases.

Breastfeeding corners, separate counters and dedicated toilets for women have been introduced at key stations, while platform height enhancement works are underway to facilitate easier boarding and disembarking, he said.

Facilities for persons with disabilities, including wheelchairs and ramps, have also been arranged at stations, while fencing is being constructed to prevent ticketless passengers from entering stations or trains, he added.

The minister said around 80% of intercity train rakes have already been replaced, helping improve passenger services, while 49 of the country's 64 districts are currently under the rail network, with efforts underway to bring the remaining 15 districts under railway connectivity.

He also highlighted several modernisation initiatives, including procurement of 200 broad-gauge carriages from India's RITES Limited, with the first batch of 20 expected by the last week of May, while the remaining coaches will be received in 2026-27 fiscal year.

Besides, the DPP preparation continues for procurement of 260 broad-gauge carriages, a DPP sent to the Planning Commission to procure 30 meter-gauge locomotives, and feasibility study for procurement of 200 meter-gauge coaches and four-wheel latches and four relief trains, he said.

Responding to another tabled question from opposition Jamaat lawmaker Shaikh Monzurul Haque Rahad (Bagerhat-2), the railways minister said although the Rupsha-Bagerhat rail section was shut down in 1998 due to losses, Bagerhat has now been reconnected to the railway network through the successful completion of the Khulna-Mongla Port single-line broad-gauge railway project.

He said the project has brought Bagerhat, which remained outside the Bangladesh Railway network for years, back under rail connectivity.