Tk2,028cr move to fix fragile western rail network

The government has moved to overhaul Bangladesh’s deteriorating western railway network with a Tk2,028.59 crore rehabilitation and maintenance project amid growing safety concerns over aging tracks, damaged sleepers and operational risks.
The railway ministry has submitted a development project proposal (DPP) titled “Bangladesh Railway West Zone Rail Track Maintenance and Rehabilitation (Phase 1)” to the Planning Commission for approval
A senior official of the Planning Commission told the Daily Sun that the project review has been completed and it is to be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council meeting today. If approved, the project will be implemented from March 2026 to February 2031 at a cost of Tk2,028.59 crore.
Considering the priority of repair and preservation of existing railway tracks, in the first phase, the railway tracks in Joydebpur-Ibrahimabad, Sayedabad-Ishwardi Bypass, Ishwardi Baishyash-Masakti, Bheramara-Ishwardi Bypass, Malanchi-Sahagola, Sahagola-Santahar, Santahar-Jaipurhat, Joypurhat-Birampur, Birampur-Parvatipur, Abdulpur-Rajshahi Court and Bhavanipur-Madhyapara sections will be maintained and rehabilitated. 
In order to increase the capacity of railway operation and improve the quality of service, about 521 km of railway track will be rehabilitated and maintained.
Officials said that the initiative comes after years of underfunding that left large parts of the western railway network in a fragile condition. Although 948 kilometres of new railway lines were constructed over the past 15 years, maintenance of the ageing infrastructure remained insufficient.
Railway data show that around 25-30% of sleepers in several sections are damaged or unusable, while ballast shortages remain widespread, affecting track balance, gauge and alignment. Cracks, broken rails and frequent technical faults 
have significantly increased safety risks.
Chief Engineer of the West Zone, Ahmed Hossain Masum, recently told the media the proposal has already been reviewed and cleared for submission to ECNEC for final approval.
A feasibility study has classified the project as urgent, noting that most railway lines in the western region are nearly a century old and have already experienced 12-15% wear, which continues to rise. Frequent rail fractures, weakened joints and structural deterioration have raised serious concerns over safe train operations.
Railway officials also said excessive train movement beyond sectional capacity has accelerated the deterioration of rails, sleepers and fittings. As a result, trains are operating at restricted speeds in several areas, affecting both passenger and freight services.
Between 2009 and 2024, eight new railway lines were constructed at a cost of over Tk71,525 crore. However, maintenance funding for western routes remained insufficient, with annual requirements estimated at Tk150-300 crore, while actual allocations fell short. In the current fiscal year, only Tk65 crore has been allocated for maintenance.
Officials warned that without urgent intervention, continued deterioration could make train operations increasingly difficult in several sections.
Meanwhile, the government is planning to expand regional rail connectivity under initiatives such as the Trans-Asian Railway Network, BIMSTEC and BBIN Initiative, which will rely heavily on the western railway network for passenger and freight movement.