New shuttle train project to link Dhaka-Kaliakair

The government plans to build a dedicated shuttle train service between Dhaka and the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) in Kaliakair to ease commuters’ movement.   

A project involving Tk 451.71 crore has been taken up to construct the railway line. The project proposal will be placed for approval today at the weekly meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

The opening of the 57km railway line will reduce the traffic congestion on the Dhaka–Tangail Highway as the people employed at various companies housed in the BHTPA will be transported by the service. The trains will also carry other passengers.

It is expected that the construction of the railway line will be completed by June 2022, according to a government document. The government took the project in January 2019. The construction of a railway station near the hi-tech park is nearing completion.

A proposal has been sent to the planning commission to buy two sets of diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) trains at a cost of Tk 161.30 crore with the government’s own fund.

In November last year, the government decided to purchase six more DEMU sets for more comfortable train service for passengers, the document also said.

The hi-tech park and its adjacent areas have been becoming important places for the people because of establishment of many local and international companies inside of the BHTPA.

Many people travel between Dhaka and Kaliakair on various modes of transports every day and have to spend hours on the streets owing to traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway.

The government is developing the hi-tech park with a view to earning $5 billion from ICT exports and generating 20 lakh jobs in the sector by 2021.