Initiatives to launch bullet train on Dhaka-Ctg route

Special Correspondent: The government has taken initiatives to launch high speed bullet train service on Dhaka-Chattogram route.

It will take only 1.5 hours to 2 hours to reach Chattogram from the capital Dhaka once the train launched, according to Railways Minister Mujibul Haque.

He said, “The distance between Dhaka and Chattogram by rail is 321km, but it would come down to 230km after the construction of this rail route, while the travel time will only be between 1.5 to 2 hours, with the train speed being as fast as 200km per hour.”

The Minister told this while talking to reporters after a contract signing ceremony in this regard at the Ministry on Thursday.

The contract was signed between Bangladesh Railway and a Bangladeshi-Chinese consortium to conduct a feasibility study and detailed design for the much-hyped ‘Dhaka-Chattogram via Cumilla-Laksam High Speed Railway Project’.

The contract was signed at Rail Bhaban between the government and the consortium of China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC) and Majumder Enterprise (ME).

Project director Kamrul Ahsan signed the deal on behalf of Bangladesh Railway while CRDC business manager Liu Weichao on behalf of his firm.

Railways Secretary Mofazzel Hossain and Director General Md Amjad Hossain, among others, were present at the deal signing ceremony.

The study will be completed within the next 18 months spending Tk 102 crore, said the Minister.

On completion of the study and the detailed plan, the minister said, they will seek budget for implementing the project. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured us of providing the fund,” he added.

risingbd/Dhaka/May 31, 2018/Hasnat/A K Azad