What the upcoming rail overhaul focuses on
A key part of the roadmap focuses on modernising core rail corridors, improving connectivity to ports, and raising rail’s share in freight transport.
The government's proposed transport reset places rail at the centre of a broader plan to rebalance the country's freight and passenger movement.
A key part of the roadmap focuses on modernising core rail corridors, improving connectivity to ports, and raising rail's share in freight transport.
The proposed roadmap includes installing electric traction on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor as well as the Narayanganj-Dhaka and Dhaka-Joydebpur routes to modernise intercity and commuter services.
It also proposes developing the Dhaka-Laksam/Cumilla chord line to improve route efficiency and network flexibility.
To strengthen the logistics chain, the plan calls for enhanced rail connectivity with all seaports and faster completion of the Matarbari Deep Sea Port and Bay Terminal projects, enabling smoother cargo movement between ports and inland destinations.
Under the strategy, the Planning Commission has set a target of increasing rail's share of freight transport to at least 20%, up from the current level of less than 5%.
