200 air-conditioned rail coaches soon

The government will buy 200 air-conditioned railway coaches from Malaysia within a year to enhance the country's rail service capacity, Communications Minister Obadiul Quader said yesterday.
The coaches will be for narrow track (metre gauge), he said, and an expert team is expected to visit Bangladesh next month to ascertain their compatibility with the local rail track.
An agreement between the two governments in this regard will follow a visit of a Bangladeshi team to Malaysia, said Obadiul Quader, who is also in charge of the railways ministry.
The minister talked to the media about the plan after Malaysian prime minister's special envoy Dato Seri S Samy Vellu called on him at Railway Division.
Asked if Bangladesh government is going to spend for the railway cars with its own money or with Malaysian loan, Quader said it was not yet settled.
Malaysia has offered such coaches, while Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with it on Padma Bridge funding this April, he said.
The minister described the railway sector as "limping" with age-old tracks, coaches and engines.
Of 2,835 kilometres of rail track, 2,200 kilometres are metre gauge.
Dato Seri, who is heading a 26-member Malaysian delegation, will visit Bangladesh late next month again to discuss final agreement on proposed Padma bridge project and construction of a monorail in Dhaka, he said.
Asked about the idea of monorail and where it might be built, the minister said Malaysia was interested in developing a metro rail out of proposed the three plans.
About World Bank's financing for Padma Bridge, Quader reiterated that the government would take its money if the bank started the loan process within the current tenure.
E-TICKET SERVICE
Bangladesh Railway formally launched e-ticketing service yesterday, enabling aspiring travellers to buy tickets online.
One could pay for tickets online with a Visa card, Master card or credit or debit cards of any bank. One has to visit www.esheba.cnsbd.com or www.railway.gov.bd for purchasing e-tickets.