Govt mulls DEMU train servic to reduce traffic congestion

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The government has taken an initiative to launch Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train in a bid to reduce traffic congestion as well as to serve the commuters residing in and around the capital and the port city of Chittagong, reports UNB. With this objective, the government will procure 20 sets (3 units in one set) DEMU train through which at least 6,000 commuters will be able to travel at a time. The proposed DEMU train routes will be Dhaka-Gazipur, Dhaka-Nara­yan­ganj, Dhaka-Narsingdi and Chittagong-Feni. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has recently approved a project titled 'Procurement of 20 sets (3 unit in one set) DEMU' at a cost of Tk 6.54 billion to be entirely borne from the government exchequer. The project is expected to be completed by June 2014. Of the total project cost, an allocation of Tk 517 million has been earmarked for the current fiscal, Tk 144.40 million for 2011-12 fiscal, Tk 5.85 billion for 2012-13 fiscal and Tk 29.70 million for the 2013-14 fiscal. According to sources at the Bangladesh Railway, the DEMU is a modern and fast train communication system which will unveil a new era in the country's rail communication. Once introduced, it is expected to reduce the traffic congestions of the satellite towns of Dhaka and Chittagong to some extent. The Communication Ministry sources said that the DEMU train is suitable for operation in satellite towns. The speed of such train can be accelerated and reduced more speedily compared to other conventional mail and express trains. The DEMU train can be operated in both ways without the need to turn around the engines. The units or bogies can also be separated or connected at a time. Planning Ministry sources said that the Pre-ECNEC (PEC) meeting on the project was held on October 27 last year. The project was included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of the current fiscal year without any allocation subject to getting foreign assistance.