The country’s first railway electrification project is set to go before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for approval, with a Tk3,822.51 crore plan to introduce electric traction on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur section.
The Tk45,504 crore MRT Line-5 southern route project will also be placed for approval at the same meeting, according to Ecnec sources.
The third Ecnec meeting of the 2026-27 fiscal year will be held on 16 September, where 15 projects will be placed for approval. Another 15 projects costing below Tk50 crore each, approved by the planning minister, will be presented for information.
The project titled “Implementation of Electric Traction Along Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur Section of Bangladesh Railway” will be implemented by Bangladesh Railway.
Of the total cost, Tk942.09 crore will come from government funding, while Tk2,880.42 crore will be financed through project loans. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have expressed interest in providing loans.
The project is scheduled for implementation from July 2026 to June 2031. It includes the installation of an overhead catenary system along 52.32 kilometres of railway tracks, procurement of 16 Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) and construction of an EMU maintenance facility. Each EMU set will have five coaches.
According to Bangladesh Railway’s project proposal, the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur section is one of the country’s busiest railway corridors, carrying a large number of passengers every day. However, limited infrastructure and rolling stock have prevented the railway from meeting growing demand.
The railway expects electric traction to increase transport capacity, improve train speeds, reduce operational costs, raise revenue and cut carbon emissions.
Project documents say electric traction is around 40 per cent more fuel-efficient than the existing diesel-electric system. Maintenance costs of electric rolling stock could also be 35 to 40 per cent lower than those of diesel-electric rolling stock.
Electric trains also have better acceleration and deceleration capacity, allowing faster changes in speed. As a result, average speed could increase by around 18 to 20 per cent, according to the documents.
Bangladesh Railway said the project would reduce dependence on a limited number of diesel locomotives and improve the use of existing railway capacity. It would also increase the railway’s share in passenger transport and reduce pressure on roads.
The Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission has recommended approval of the project, saying electric traction would reduce travel time and costs while increasing passenger capacity and revenue potential.
MRT Line-5 southern route awaits approval
The MRT Line-5 southern route project, costing Tk45,504 crore, will also be placed before Ecnec for approval. Financed by the ADB and South Korea, it will be the first MRT project approved by the BNP government.
The 17.2-kilometre route from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi will have 15 stations, including 11 underground and four elevated stations.
The Gabtoli-Aftabnagar section will run underground, while the Aftabnagar-Dasherkandi section will be elevated. The route will pass through Technical, Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, Shukrabad, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon and Aftabnagar before reaching Dasherkandi.
The project initially plans to operate 19 trains, each with six air-conditioned coaches. A train will be able to carry up to 1,908 passengers.
The journey between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi will take around 28 minutes, with trains operating at intervals of four minutes and 30 seconds.
The project cost was initially estimated at Tk54,619 crore in April 2024. Following discussions between the Planning Commission and the Road Transport and Highways Division, the cost was revised down to Tk45,504 crore.
The ADB has committed up to $3 billion in loans, while South Korea has pledged up to $1.5 billion. The project is scheduled from September 2026 to August 2033.
Other projects awaiting Ecnec approval include upgrading district highways under the Rajshahi and Chattogram road zones, construction of Barishal Cantonment, infrastructure development in the Khulna naval area, Khulna sewerage system development, a new dual-gauge railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj, labour welfare improvements in the textile and leather sectors and electricity distribution expansion in Monpura.
The list also includes healthcare strengthening projects for maternal, newborn and child health services and non-communicable disease control, programmes to combat tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria, Financial Sector Support Project-2, flood and river management in the Little Feni and Bamni river basins, and a digital land management system through digital surveys.
