Electric trains planned for Dhaka-Chattogram route

The government plans to introduce electric trains on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor once financing for the project is secured, a move expected to reduce travel time and boost tourism connectivity between the capital and the country’s main port city.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made the disclosure in reply to a question in Parliament on Wednesday, saying a feasibility study and detailed design for installing electric traction on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor had already been completed.

He said steps would be taken to implement the project after securing the necessary financing. A detailed action plan and implementation schedule would then be prepared.

The introduction of electric trains would increase the average speed of trains and reduce travel time between Dhaka and Chattogram, the prime minister said.

Improved rail connectivity could also make travel more convenient for domestic and international tourists visiting Chattogram and destinations in the region, while strengthening links between major tourism and economic centres.

In response to a question from Chattogram-12 MP Mohammad Enamul Haque about plans to introduce electric or bullet trains to reduce travel time between Dhaka and Chattogram, the prime minister said the government was also working to upgrade the existing railway corridor.

He said steps had been taken to convert the Dhaka-Chattogram railway route into a dual-gauge double-line corridor.

Feasibility studies and detailed designs for constructing dual-gauge double lines on the Tongi-Akhaura and Laksam-Chattogram sections have already been completed, he said.

The Laksam-Chattogram Dual Gauge Double Line Development Project is currently being processed for approval, while preparation of the Development Project Proposal (DPP) for the Tongi-Akhaura section is at the final stage.

Once implemented, the two projects are expected to increase Bangladesh Railway’s passenger transport capacity and train speeds on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor.

The prime minister said a separate initiative was also underway to conduct a feasibility study and prepare a detailed design for constructing a chord line from Dhaka to Cumilla to shorten the distance between the two cities.

The project, if implemented, would reduce the distance between Dhaka and Chattogram and increase average train speeds, enabling passengers to travel between the two cities in less time.

For the tourism sector, faster and more reliable rail connectivity could facilitate easier movement of visitors between Dhaka and Chattogram, while improving access to major destinations in the wider Chattogram region.

The parliamentary session was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.