BR seeks funds from Russia for 5 projects

Bangladesh Railway has sought Russian funds in five projects that include Dhaka-Chattogram high-speed rail line project and the Bhanga-Payra rail line project.

According to sources, the authorities estimated a cost of $18,807.36 million (Tk 160,000 crore) for the five projects. Of this, the railway wants to get $12,635.72 (Tk 107,355) as support.

BR proposals would be discussed at the third meeting of the Bangladesh-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Scientific, Economic and Technical Cooperation (BR-IGC) starts tomorrow, they said.

The three-day virtual meeting would be spearheaded by Economic Relations Division (ERD) on Bangladesh side and would be participated by officials of different agencies concerned of both countries, an ERD official said.

On the other hand, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan is expected to visit Russia next week.

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy called on Sujan last month and invited the minister to visit Russia. At that time, Sujan sought Russian investment in Bangladesh's railway sector.

Russia has not provided BR with any funds in in Bangladesh in recent past.

THE PROJECTS

The five projects are Dhaka-Chattogram High Speed Railway; construction of Bhanga-Payra Rail Line; construction of a dual gauge single line from Chakaria to Maheshkhali and Matarbari Power Plant; procurement of 46 broad gauge locomotives; and construction of workshop and depot at Diapara in Gazipur.

BR has already completed the feasibility study and detailed design of the high-speed railway project.

The estimated cost of the 224.64-kilometre-long rail route is $11.11 billion (Tk 93,350.93 crores).

Once constructed and the high-speed train begins operation, the journey from the capital to the commercial capital (Chattogram) will be slashed to just 73 minutes. An uninterrupted journey between Dhaka and Chattogram will take only 55 minutes.

However, Railways Minister recently told this correspondent that the government would go slow to implement the project as it would require huge investment.

As part of the government's plans to bring the entire country under the rail network and establish a direct link between the under-construction Payra Sea Port and the capital, BR intended to construct the rail line from Bhanga to Payra.

The line will cost around $4.93 billion (Tk 41,797.6 crores), BR documents show.

To connect the under-construction and proposed Matarbari power plants and proposed deep seaport with Chattogram-Dohazari rail corridor, BR is planning to construct a new dual gauge line from Chakaria to Moheshkhali.

The estimated cost of the project would be $1552.95 million.

Another project is for establishing a dedicated BG depot and workshop with all modern facilities for the maintenance of BG rolling stock of BR's east zone.

It would cost around $944.15 million for the construction of carriage, wagon and locomotive workshops, fueling facilities and deport BG rolling stock at Daripara in Gazipur's Kaliganj upazila.

The last project for procuring 46 BG locomotives, which would cost around $ 268.09 million.

Sheikh Sakil Uddin Ahmed, joint secretary (planning) of the railways ministry said they have made the proposal earlier and will discuss it in the (BR-IGC) meeting.

An ERD official said the issue related to the railway sector would be discussed at an expert-level meeting on December 14 and a chairperson level meeting on December 15 too.