Dual-gauge dream
11yrs on, BR meets 5.0pc target only
MUNIMA SULTANA | Wednesday, 2 August 2023
Even after the lapse of 10 years, the railways could meet only 5.0 per cent of its target to develop dual-gauge track to operate both metre- and broad-gauge trains.
The delay is due to inability on part of the Bangladesh Railway (BR) to implement allied projects.
According to the 30-year master plan till 2045, the BR has target to develop 1,630-kilometre dual-gauge lines by converting existing metre-gauge and new ones as part of the gauge-unification policy.
The 72-km dual-gauge track from Akhaura to Laksham, however, enables trains to operate uninterrupted movement on Dhaka-Chattogram part for establishing connectivity with metre-gauge double line.
Sources said the entire 225-km double-line track on the country's prime rail corridor remains in metre gauge for not undertaking any dual-gauge project before the plan was formulated in 2016.
Although the BR planned to develop 169-km double-line dual gauge from Joydevpur to Iswardi and 145-km Joydevpur-Mymensingh-Jamalpur route in separate projects in 2016, none could be implemented yet.
Besides, the project to develop 12-km third and fourth lane dual gauge from Tongi to Joydevpur is yet to be completed within the target year.
The master plan, which was supposed to be executed with five years' target, has set a target to develop 1,630-km dual-gauge line and 856.76-km double line by 2045.
Failing to finish dual gauge, sources said, the target of rehabilitating 35-km existing track under the master plan has been increased to 328.36 km until June 2023.
The age-old track has been threatened for train operation, they added.
However, an official said the projects, which are underway, could development 1,180-km new line with dual-gauge track facility at the end of the second phase of the plan.
The BR has a target to implement the master plan with an investment plan of Tk 5.0 trillion in four phases with a five-year breakdown.
According to the master plan, the highest investment plan to the tune of Tk 1.48 billion was set for 2016-2020 for implementing 84 projects and Tk 762.45 billion for implementing 67 projects during 2021-2025.