Railways minister Md Zillul Hakim on Monday told the Jatiya Sangsad that 230 projects, worth Tk 5.53 lakh crore, had been planned to construct circular railways around Dhaka city till 2045.
These projects include the introduction of electric traction in the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Chattogram section and the construction of a chord line from Narayanganj to Laksam of Cumilla.
Responding to a question from the ruling Awami League lawmaker Ali Azam during the question and answer session, the minister mentioned an agreement, signed on July 16 with the consultancy firm Tumas 鈥� Turkish Engineering Consulting and Contracting Co.
The agreement is to verify the feasibility of the project titled 鈥楩easibility Study and Detailed Design鈥� for electric traction, including the construction of overhead catenary and substations, from Dhaka to Chattogram via Narayanganj.
Field-level work for the project was ongoing, said the minister.
He also stated that 40 locomotives with auxiliary power units would be added to Bangladesh Railway to reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
In response to another question by Ali Azam, Zillul Hakim said that if the development cooperation was agreed upon, a project to construct Bhanga-Pyara-Kuakata railway track would be initiated.
Addressing another question from independent lawmaker Muhammad Saiful Islam, the minister revealed that Bangladesh Railway had 6,840.61 acres of land, illegally occupied across the country.
The largest areas of illegal occupation are 5,035.12 acres in Pakshey, 1,468.10 acres in Lalmonirhat, 216.89 acres in Chattogram, and 120.50 acres in Dhaka.
He added that eviction operations were conducted regularly, and the land was leased through tenders.
Responding to another question from independent lawmaker Mohammad Hushamuddin, Zillul Hakim mentioned that the procurement of 350-metre gauge and 300 broad gauge coaches, as well as 100-metre gauge and 40 broad gauge locomotives, was in process.
