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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Energy & Infrastructure

Bangladesh railway project misses fourth deadline, services crippled

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A Tk 62.7 crore railway rehabilitation project in Bangladesh has missed its fourth deadline, causing trains to run at 10-15 km/h and reducing services.
  • The project, launched in 2023 to modernize the Kurigram-Chilmari route, faces delays due to the contractor's financial difficulties and unpaid bills from Bangladesh Railway.
  • Passengers, particularly low-income workers, are struggling with slow and infrequent train services, making travel difficult and unaffordable.

Passengers on the Kurigram-Chilmari railway route in Bangladesh face arduous journeys as a Tk 62.7 crore rehabilitation project has failed to meet its fourth deadline. Trains now crawl at 10-15 km/h, a stark contrast to battery-run three-wheelers that travel at 40-45 km/h. The project's delays have also slashed daily train services from three pairs to just one.

The contractor could not complete the project on time due to financial difficulties, as we were going through a fund crisis. The situation has now improved, and we hope the entire project will be completed by December.

— Abdur RazzakAssistant engineer of the Lalmonirhat Divisional Railway, explaining the project delays.

Launched in 2023 by Bangladesh Railway, the modernization project aimed to upgrade the 29-kilometer route. It involves track rehabilitation, new sleepers, earth filling, protection walls, and bridge renovations. Initially slated for completion in January 2025, the deadline has been pushed back multiple times, now set for December 2026.

Abdur Razzak, assistant engineer for Lalmonirhat Divisional Railway, cited financial difficulties and a fund crisis as reasons for the delay, though he noted the situation has improved. However, Rubel Islam, manager of Biswas Construction Limited, claims the contractor is hampered by unpaid bills, with nearly half of their invoices outstanding. He stated that clearing these bills would accelerate work.

Despite our financial difficulties, we have continued the work by taking loans to purchase construction materials. If our outstanding bills are cleared, the pace of work will increase further.

— Rubel IslamManager of Biswas Construction Limited, detailing the contractor's challenges.

Local businessman Sohannur Rahman highlighted the impact on residents of Chilmari, a poor and erosion-prone area. For many low-income individuals who rely on the train for daily wage work, the current state of the railway makes travel extremely difficult and unaffordable. The reduced service and slow speeds exacerbate these challenges.

For low-income people, the train is the only affordable means of transport. But the condition of the railway has made travelling extremely difficult.

— Sohannur RahmanA local businessman describing the impact on residents.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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