The government is planning to construct a new railway cord line between Narayanganj and Cumilla to reduce the distance and travel time on the Dhaka-Chattogram rail route, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid said on Saturday.
The proposed project could shorten the rail distance between Dhaka and Chattogram by around 80 kilometres and reduce travel time by about one hour and 20 minutes, he said.
Speaking at a press briefing at Chattogram Railway Station, the state minister said a feasibility study for the Narayanganj-Cumilla cord line is currently underway.
“If implemented, the project will significantly reduce the distance between Dhaka and Chattogram, making rail travel faster and more convenient,” he said.
Habibur Rashid said the government is also planning to increase train services on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route as part of efforts to improve railway connectivity and passenger services.
He said several measures have been taken to modernise railway services on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar corridors, adding that the proposed cord line would make one of the country’s busiest railway routes more efficient and affordable.
On railway land management, the state minister said the government has decided not to lease out any new railway land.
“Existing leases will be reviewed and monitored. “Where there are legal complications, the leases will be cancelled and the land will be brought back under railway management,” he said.
He added that the government is also considering implementing solar power projects on railway land at various locations across the country.
Responding to allegations of illegal structures on railway land in Chattogram and claims that some officials were collecting rent from such structures, the state minister said all complaints would be investigated.
“If any complaint is received, it will be properly investigated and action will be taken. This is a democratic government and we are accountable to the people,” he said.
On allegations of irregularities in railway tender processes, Habibur Rashid said the current procurement system leaves little scope for political interference.
“There is no scope for partisanship in the current tender system. However, if any irregularities are found, they will be investigated and action will be taken according to the law,” he added.
Senior officials of Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Zone, along with leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations, were present at the programme.
