Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launching the new train service Benapole Express on the Dhaka-Benapole route and the extension service of Dhaka-Rajshahi nonstop intercity train 'Bonolata Express' tto Chapainawabganj through video conferencing on Wednesday — BSS Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has a plan to introduce electric and high-speed trains in the country to make the railway services better and faster, reports UNB.
"We've a plan to generate more electricity as we're now producing 22,000MW...we'll be able to introduce electric trains in near future...we'll set up rail lines for remote areas as well to introduce speedy trains for easier communications," she said on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating 'Benapole Express' for plying between capital Dhaka and Benapole, and the extension service of Dhaka-Rajshahi nonstop intercity 'Bonolata Express' train to Chapainawabganj.
The Benapole Express, having 896 seats in 12 compartments, will have stopovers in Ishwardi, Jashore and Dhaka Airport stations.
The train will leave Benapole at 11.30am and reach Dhaka at 7pm. On the other hand, it will depart Dhaka for Beanpole at 12.30am and reach the destination at 8 am.
The ticket price for the train has been fixed at Tk 534 for Shovan chair, Tk 1,013 for Snigdha, Tk 1,213 for airconditioned seats each and Tk 1,869 for airconditioned berth. Its coaches have been procured from Indonesia.
People will be able to avail themselves of the train service during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
The train will reduce the existing travel time by one hour and 15 minutes, helping the Bangladesh Railway earn Tk 34 crore annually.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan and ADB Country Director Manmohan Parkash were also present at Ganobhaban.
When the Awami League government came to power, she said, it inherited only 1,600 MW of electricity generation capacity, but it now jumped to 22,000MW.
Hasina mentioned that with the introduction of electric and speedy trains, goods transports will be easier and faster creating opportunities for enhanced business and trade.
"The economy will get stronger...we'll be able to establish poverty- and hunger-free Golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and for what the freedom fighters fought and laid down their lives," she said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the current distance between Dhaka and Benapole by railway is much longer -- 385 kilometres.
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