Diesel electric train in two cities by 2014
Ecnec okays Tk 654.42 crore
The government has taken an initiative to launch Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train to reduce traffic congestion as well as to serve the commuters residing in and around the capital and the port city.
With this objective, the government will procure 20 sets (3 units in one set) DEMU train through which at least 6,000 commuters will be able to travel at a time. The DEMU train routes will be Dhaka-Gazipur, Dhaka-Narayanganj, Dhaka-Narsingdi and Chittagong-Feni.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has recently approved a project titled 'Procurement of 20 sets (3 unit in one set) DEMU' at a cost of Tk 654.42 crore to be entirely borne from the government exchequer. The project is expected to be completed by June 2014.
According to sources at the Bangladesh Railway, the DEMU is a modern and fast train communication system, which will unveil a new era in the country's rail communication.
At the same time, it is also expected to replace the existing slow engines of the trains apart from fulfilling the demand of fast running passenger trains on the Dhaka-Gazipur, Dhaka-Narayanganj, Dhaka-Narsingdi, and Chittagong-Feni routes.
Railway sources said each of the DEMU could carry 100 passengers so as a set with three bogies would be able to carry 300 passengers. These DEMU trains are being introduced in the other big cities of the world to meet the growing demand of transport.
The speed of such train can be accelerated and reduced more speedily compared to other conventional mail and express trains.
The DEMU train can be operated in both ways without the need to turn round the engines.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) sources said that assistance was sought earlier from China for financing the project.
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