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The rail network with the country’s north-western region is likely to improve with speed, time and number of train operations in 2027.
With this end in view, the Bangladesh Railway (BR) has set a target to start building the 162-kilometre second dual-gauge track from Joydevpur to Iswardi by the end of 2024.
According to officials, the project, delayed by over five years, has made progress in finalising Japanese credit along with the approval of a technical assistance project proposal (TAPP) for design work.
The highest economic policy-making body ECNEC approved the TAPP on October 31 after the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) agreed to provide its loan into two parts - consultancy and construction.
"As loan-related complication is over and TAPP is approved with a shortlist of firms for detailed design, we expect to start physical work by the end of 2024," said a project insider.
However, sources hint at the likelihood of the project cost at Tk 180 billion from Tk 142.50 billion as a JICA survey on the feasibility study revised the estimation for delay and adding new components.
According to them, the JICA survey this year has estimated the revised cost to Tk 180 billion, which is yet to be included in the revised development project proposal.
The Planning Commission approved the DPP on 04 November 2018 when a Chinese company showed interest in the project under the government-to-government arrangement.
It was one of the priority projects signed during Xi Jinping's Dhaka visit in 2016.
But the Chinese government dropped the project after two years of silence in 2021.
Following Japan's interest, officials said, project office shortlisted firms to vie for detailed design.
The design work would be done in a year beginning from March next, they added.
Currently, the BR has a third line from Dhaka to Tongi and two dual-gauge lines from Tongi to Joydevpur.
But the Joydevpur to Iswardi route has a single line for trains to commute to and from the north-western swathe to the capital city of Dhaka. The JICA team found the new track would increase the speed level of passenger and freight trains to 120 kilometres per hour and 80 kph respectively.
At present, 28 trains are operated through the rail corridor to be linked with north-western districts. The number will climb to 74 after the development of the track.
The travel time of both passenger and freight trains will be reduced to 30 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
Besides, the dual-gauge track will improve the load capacity of BR services in line with regional and international corridors for operating broad-gauge trains.