Recover grabbed railway land PM asks ministry officials Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the railway ministry to recover the illegally occupied land of Bangladesh Railway for expanding railway network and its services all over the country. To reduce pressure on the capital, she also instructed the ministry to introduce commuter train service between the capital and the adjoining districts so that people can come to the city in a couple of hours and go back after finishing their works or offices. Carry out drives regularly to reclaim the grabbed land of railway, especially from both sides of the rail tracks so that we can construct duel gauge and double-track lines, said the PM while addressing the ministry officials at the Rail Bhaban. Hasina said her government would build an exclusive rail bridge alongside the existing Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna river for increasing train services between east and west zones of railway. She said the World Bank has already expressed its interest to finance the rail bridge. A new railway bridge over the Jamuna river is necessary as the Bangabandhu Bridge does not have enough capacity to take additional loads. Only 24 trains can ply over the bridge as authorities have put restrictions on load and speed of trains considering the safety of the bridge. Hasina said rail communications with the countrys southern part will start smoothly once the Padma Multipurpose Bridge is opened. Take steps so that different areas of the southern region come under rail communications after opening of the Padma Bridge, she asked the railway ministry. The premier mentioned that the World Bank scrapped its promised fund for the Padma bridge project after it was politically motivated by certain quarters. World Bank could not even give us any proof in support of its claims of corruption in the project, the PM said, adding, We challenged the WBs allegation saying no corruption took place in the project and it has been proved. On June 30, 2012, the WB cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project, saying it has proof of corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some individuals. She strongly criticised the BNP for sabotaging railways during the anti-government demonstration in the run-up to the January 5 elections. Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, said railway incurred heavy loss as its tracks were uprooted and coaches were torched during the demonstration aimed at foiling the election.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 12:34:22 +0000
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