Bangladesh Railway To Boost Chittagong-dohazari Line With New Locomotive Purchases

Published on August 18, 2025

In a decisive measurement toward upgrading nan railway system, Bangladesh Railway has announced nan acquisition of 30 brand-new locomotives designated for nan Chittagong-Dohazari corridor. This acquisition is simply a important constituent of a broader programme to heighten nan country’s railway infrastructure, pinch nan cardinal objectives of improving operational performance, raising information standards, and strengthening location links.

Why This Modernization Matters

The Chittagong-Dohazari railway line, a cardinal way for some rider and freight transport, has agelong been nether strain owed to aging infrastructure and constricted resources. In galore sections, nan trains person been forced to recreation astatine importantly reduced speeds, astatine times arsenic debased arsenic 20 km/h, owed to deteriorating tracks. This is simply a acold outcry from nan line’s designed velocity of 100 km/h.

The planned locomotive acquisition is intended to reside this rumor by expanding traction and improving nan wide reliability of nan service. Alongside nan locomotives, extended way and infrastructure renovations will beryllium carried out, ensuring that nan statement tin grip faster, much businesslike train operations.

Government and Expert Involvement

The Ministry of Railway has already established a typical committee to measure nan precise requirements for nan caller rolling stock. The committee, consisting of master engineers and railway professionals, will attraction connected selecting locomotives that meet precocious standards of performance, power efficiency, and world value norms.

Director General of Bangladesh Railway, Afzal Hossain, pointed retired that nan existent fleet of locomotives is successful mediocre condition, pinch little than half of them being operational. To velocity up nan process, an master sheet has been group up to measure nan needs and make recommendations earlier tender archiving is finalized.

This determination follows expanding concerns astir nan acute shortage of functional traction rolling stock, which has been hampering nan country’s expertise to amended its railway services. The recently acquired locomotives are expected to beryllium a game-changer for nan nationalist railway system.

Financial Support for nan Project

The modernization task is supported by important financial backing. The authorities of Bangladesh has sought a indebtedness of $508 cardinal from nan Asian Development Bank (ADB) to money nan reconstruction of nan Chittagong-Dohazari line. This backing will thief screen nan costs of nan caller locomotives arsenic good arsenic nan basal infrastructure upgrades.

The investments purpose to reside captious issues successful nan railway sector, peculiarly nan aging tracks. By introducing caller rolling banal and improving nan infrastructure, nan task will importantly heighten nan velocity and reliability of train services, which successful move will foster amended location waste and acquisition and tourism.

Strengthening Regional Ties and International Cooperation

Bangladesh’s railway modernization is besides portion of its broader strategy to fortify ties pinch neighboring countries, peculiarly India. In May 2024, Bangladesh signed an statement pinch Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) to acquisition 200 rider coaches for nan wide gauge network. The deal, weighted astatine $111 million, highlights nan expanding collaboration betwixt Bangladesh and India successful nan railway sector.

Such world partnerships are important for nan semipermanent improvement of nan railway strategy successful Bangladesh. They supply entree to cutting-edge exertion and expertise, which is captious for overcoming nan challenges posed by an outdated infrastructure.

Benefits for Travelers

For travelers, nan modernization of nan Chittagong-Dohazari way is expected to bring a big of benefits. With caller locomotives and upgraded tracks, nan travel will go faster, smoother, and much comfortable. The reduced recreation times will make train recreation a much charismatic action for some locals and visitors visiting nan region.

Additionally, improved reliability intends less disruptions and delays, enhancing nan wide acquisition for those utilizing nan railway for some business and leisure travel. With nan enhanced obstruction system, passengers tin look guardant to a much modern, efficient, and safe mode of transportation.

Looking Ahead

The upcoming locomotive acquisition is conscionable 1 measurement successful Bangladesh Railway’s ongoing efforts to overhaul nan country’s railway infrastructure. The committedness to modernizing nan web will not only amended nan obstruction acquisition for travelers but besides person a important effect connected location connectivity and economical growth. By investing successful state-of-the-art exertion and strengthening world partnerships, Bangladesh is positioning itself to go a location leader successful railway transport.

The Bottom Line

The upgrade of nan Chittagong-Dohazari statement brings encouraging prospects for passengers and nan nationalist system alike. Fresh locomotives, stronger tracks, and engaged world collaborations are equipping Bangladesh Railway to upgrade work standards and to stimulate tourism and cross-border waste and acquisition crossed nan area. Thanks to these commitments, nan outlook for obstruction recreation successful Bangladesh is progressively reassuring, arsenic each enhancement forges stronger links successful a much effective transit system.