Govt eyes expanded circular rail

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan has directed the authorities concerned to do further study on whether Keraniganj and the entire Purbachal area can be brought under the proposed circular rail network.

He came up with the directives at a meeting yesterday, over the draft feasibility study report on the construction of the circular rail line around Dhaka city, said three meeting participants.

Officials of the railways ministry, Bangladesh Railway, and different government agencies concerned took part in the meeting held at the capital's Rail Bhaban, they said.

As per the draft feasibility study report, the 80.89km long circular rail would go along the existing inner ring road and eastern bypass embankment of the capital and part of Narayanganj district.

The proposed route is Bishwa Ijtema Ground-Uttara-Dhaka Zoo-Gabtoli-Mohammadpur-Sadarghat-Postagola-Fatullah-Chashara-Adamjee-Demra-Trimohini-Purbachal-Tongi. The project's estimated cost is $8.37 billion.

A China-Bangladesh joint venture firm conducted the feasibility study at the cost of Tk 24.56 crore and submitted the draft report to the project authorities.

However, the railways minister asked the project authorities to explore the option whether Keraniganj, suburb of the capital, can be included in the circular railway network.

A railway official, who has idea about the project, said as per the current plan, the route would be Kamrangirchar-Sadarghat-Postagola-Pagla-Fatullah, mainly to facilitate the passengers at Sadarghat launch terminal.

There is another route plan -- Kamrangirchar-Jhilmil North-Bashundhara Riverview-Fatullah. And in that case, the circular rail would not be able to cater passengers at Sadarghat, he said, wishing not to be named.

Although there are two stations in Purbachal area, the minister asked the project authorities to consider bringing the entire Purbachal area under the network.

But in that case, the circular rail would go to the other side of the Shitalakhya river and people living on the other side of the river, which is also under Purbachal, may not feel interested to use the circular rail crossing the river, the official said.

PROJECT'S MAIN FEATURES

The government proposed establishing a circular rail network to facilitate the daily influx of Dhaka-bound workers and traders from the peripheral districts like Gazipur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Narsingdi and Tangail.

Besides, the circular rail network -- already popular in many countries -- will greatly reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka, which so far centres around road communications, said BR officials.

Using the network, one will be able to go from the one end of the capital to the other without having to enter the city. Its many interchange stations with the metro rail, bus rapid transit, or other modes will also allow people to enter the city, they said.

The rail network will have 24 stations, 12 of which will have interchange facilities with the metro rail, dedicated bus services, and Sadarghat launch terminal, said the study report.

Around 10km of the rail track will be underground, while the rest will be elevated. Three of the stations will be underground and the rest 21 elevated. The depot would be built near Demra and the stabling yard near Tirmukh.

The rail line would be able to carry 10.65 lakh passengers daily in 2035 and 15.75 lakh in 2055, says the draft report.

The maximum speed of the electric train would be 120km per hour and it would be ballastless continuous welded double tracks line.

As per the project implementation plan, pre-construction preparation would start in January 2022, while the overall construction would begin in July 2022, according to the project documents.

Trial run of the line would start in September 2028 and the total construction period would be 75 months, read the documents.

As per the draft report, the project would be suitable to adopt build-operate-transfer mode for public-private partnership operation.