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Any decision regarding the increase of train fares is yet to be taken, said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujon on Monday.
The minister said it to journalists at the contract signing ceremony between Bangladesh Railway (BR) and Hyundai Rotem of Korea at Rail Bhaban.
As per the contract, BR will procure 20 metre gauge locomotives from the Korean company at a cost of $ 80.345 million for improving its train services.
Project Director Abdul Matin Chowdhury and Senior Vice President Hyundai Rotem Hyung-Wook Kim signed the contract on behalf of respective sides.
Rail Secretary M Mofazzel Hossain and BR Director General M Kazi Rafiqul Islam were present at the ceremony among others.
The Korean firm is set to complete the supply of 20 locomotives within 22 months to 28 months.
Economic Development Cooperation Fund of Korea and the government will jointly finance for the procurement of the locomotives.
The Railway Minister told the media that a committee has been formed to compare the fares of other modes of transport with rail.
Nurul Islam also said BR has been working to improve its services with all modern facilities and hoped that new locomotives would increase the revenue.
“Wholehearted efforts will be made to provide desirable services to the people,” said the minister adding that the government is working to make BR like that of international ones.
BR is facing problems in providing adequate or required services due to lack of locomotives and coaches.
Currently it has 178 metre gauge locomotives but economic life of 139 of them has is more than 20 years.