DHAKA: The government is actively considering constructing electric railway on the Dhaka-Chittagong route, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain told parliament Thursday.

A master plan in this connection has already been made to convert important routes of the railway to power-run routs in phases, he said in reply to lawmakers` queries on the communications sector.

The minister said, “The project proposal for getting foreign funds now lies with the planning commission for its disposal in principle.”

The Dhaka-Chittagong trains now have 71 engines and 324 bogies (compartments) of broad gauge, and 177 engines and 1,168 bogies of meter gauge, he said.

Syed Abul Hossain informed the House that the government has decided to construct three routes of the proposed Trans-Asian Railway over Bangabandhu Bridge.

Besides, the construction work of the meter-gauge rail line on the route will start after getting assurance of foreign funds.

The rail route would help connect Chittagong with India, Bhutan and Nepal, he concluded.

BDST: 1845 pm, 17 June 2010
JI/NJ/MRH/SMS/MUA