Tk 14,542cr proposed for railways ministry

Publish: 1:39 PM, June 7, 2018 | Update: 1:39 PM, June 7, 2018

DHAKA – An allocation of Taka 14,542 crore has been made for the Railways Ministry in the proposed budget for fiscal (FY) 2018-19.

The allocation is Taka 663 crore more than the revised budget of the previous FY 2017-18 of Taka 13,879 crore. The proposed budget of the fiscal 2017-18 for the ministry was Taka 16,013 crore.

Under the budget, Taka 3,387 crore was proposed for non-development expenditure and 11,155 crore for development expenditure of railways ministry.

Placing the budget proposals at the Jatiya Sangsad here today, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said for comprehensive development of railway sector, the existing 20-year Railway Master Plan was updated. Under this master plan, 230 projects have been identified for implementation by 2045, he added.

Muhith said in the next fiscal year , “We plan to construct 120 km new railway, 22 km railway resettlement, 2,550km railway maintenance, 55 new rail bridge construction, modernisation of 16 station signalling system, procurement of 50 BG and MG passenger bound coach and rehabilitation of 40 carriages.”

“We also have plan to build 395km new rail line, 76 km rail line resettlement and 173 new rail bridges in the next few years,” the minister said.

He said currently, a feasibility study is going on to build a dual gauge double tracked ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge’ in parallel with the existing Bangabandhu Bridge over Jamuna river.