BR still lacks fit execution plan for decade-old policy

Bangladesh Railway (BR) has yet to formulate a comprehensive plan to incorporate electric traction in its upcoming development projects, despite a policy-level decision made a decade ago.
While over 70 countries have shifted to electric train services, BR remains limited to a few specialised projects. One of these is expected to reach the physical stage next year for operating commuter trains.
Sources said the state-owned rail track developer has already launched two projects on the Dhaka-Chattogram rail corridor to convert the existing two-lane metre gauge into dual gauge, estimating the cost at Tk 333.08 billion. Inclusion of electric traction in these projects could reduce both costs and time by carrying track development and electrification simultaneously.
The two projects -- the Laksam-Chinki Astana-Chattogram section at Tk 187.21 billion, and Tongi-Bhairab Bazar-Akhaura at Tk 145.87 billion -- will be included in this fiscal year.
Railway officials said priority should be given to developing the cord line first, which would connect Cumilla to Laksam over 95 km, reducing travel time from five hours to two and a half hours.
"Electric traction would reduce not only mileage but also operating costs by lowering maintenance expenses," said an official. Though initial costs for purchasing and setting up electric locomotives are high, their maintenance and overhauling costs are about 50 per cent lower than diesel locomotives.
Electric trains, powered by transformers, motors, and sensors, require less time for overhauling compared with traditional engines that rely on spare parts.
BR included electric traction in its revised master plan approved in January 2018, prioritising conversion of the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor. However, studies on electric traction along the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Tongi-Joydevpur-Chattogram route only began recently, with partial studies from Narayanganj to Joydevpur completed.
The study on the cord line, including the option of electric traction, began in 2023 and is now in its final stage.
BR Director General Mohammad Afzal Hossain said the development works are heavily dependent on foreign funding, which has limited the scope for comprehensive plans. He did not comment on any specific initiative regarding electric traction.
Over 70 countries now operate electric trains, with Switzerland achieving full electrification and India close to 100 per cent.
Due to a lack of vision, BR had to implement the dual gauge project on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor after completing the single-lane metre gauge track a few years ago. Of the total corridor, the dual gauge track was developed between Akhaura and Laksam.
The dedicated Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydevpur electric traction project is expected to cost Tk 39.33 billion.
A senior official said that BR must adopt a comprehensive plan in ongoing development projects to avoid lapses, citing the inclusion of electric traction in the detailed design stage of the Joydevpur-Iswardi project.
He added that as BR develops the bypass line in Dhirasaram-Tongi from the planned Inland Container Depot (ICD), prioritising electric traction on the cord line would also connect northern districts to Chattogram for a freight corridor. For all these initiatives, a visionary approach is needed to convert existing and new tracks during the planning stages.

smunima@yahoo.com