Dinajpur:Dhaka The government has embarked on a comprehensive infrastructure development plan worth Taka 31,500 crore to alleviate the challenges of train travel and communication in northern Bangladesh. Railway sources indicate that the rail distance could be reduced by 114 kilometers upon the project's completion.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the potential new route may enable travel to Dinajpur in just five hours. This development would facilitate easier travel for residents of Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, and other northern districts. Additionally, it is expected to enhance the transportation of goods and agricultural produce through the Hili land port, potentially boosting the local economy.
Sheikh Hasanuzzaman, CEO of the Dinajpur Parbatipur Railway Division, confirmed these details, referencing a visit by Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping, Shaikh Rabiul Alam, MP. The minister announced the plan during a meeting with local railway officials on October 13 after visiting the locomotive workshop in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur.
Preliminary work on the plan has begun, involving improvements to the Dinajpur-Dhaka rail communication and the establishment of a new Bogura-Sirajganj rail line. An initiative to acquire 80 new locomotives to enhance the railway's capacity is also underway, with a proposal to buy 30 locomotives already approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is financing a direct dual gauge railway chord line between Bogura and Sirajganj at a cost of Taka 12,442 crore. This construction aims to reduce train travel distance by 114 kilometers, saving three to four hours on trips to Santahar and Ishwardi.
Additionally, over 95 percent of construction work on the 190-kilometer Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur highway has been completed, aided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a cost of Taka 19,056 crore. This highway will feature six lanes with service lanes, nine flyovers, and 22 overpasses.
Efforts are also being made to address traffic congestion in Dinajpur city, with plans to expand roads to four lanes. The local MP, Syed Jahangir Alam, expressed optimism about the upcoming projects, including the conversion of the Dinajpur central bus terminal and connecting roads to four lanes.
These infrastructure improvements are deemed essential for the people of Dinajpur and the surrounding northern districts, with hopes for directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to further ease travel hardships in the region.