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No decision yet on train fare hike: Minister

Korean firm to supply 20 locomotives


FE Report | March 19, 2019 00:00:00


No decision has yet been taken on raising the train fares, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon said on Monday.

A committee has been formed to make a comparative analysis of rail and other transport fares, he added.

The minister made the remarks in response to queries from reporters at a contract signing ceremony of Bangladesh Railway (BR) at Rail Bhaban in the city.

Recently, a media report suggested that the BR is going to increase the train fare.

At the ceremony, the BR signed a US$ 80.345 million contract with Hyundai Rotem of Korea to procure 20 metre-gauge locomotives for improving its service.

Project Director Abdul Matin Chowdhury and Senior Vice President of Hyundai Rotem Hyung-Wook Kim signed the deal on behalf of the respective sides.

Rail Secretary M Mofazzel Hossain and BR Director General M Kazi Rafiqul Islam were present on the occasion.

The railways minister said BR has been working to modernise its services. The new locomotives would help increase the revenue of BR.

"Wholehearted efforts will be made to provide desirable services to the people," he said, adding that the government is working to upgrade the railway services to global standard.

Presently, the BR has been facing problems in providing the required service due to shortage of locomotives and coaches. It has now 178 metre-gauge locomotives, but the economic life of 139 locomotives has expired years ago.

The Korean firm is scheduled to complete the supply of 20 locomotives in 22 to 28 months.

The Economic Development Cooperation Fund of Korea and the government are jointly financing the procurement of the locomotives.

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