Bangladesh Economy: News & Updates

[Roybot]

read it, chi chi chi. taka halal kore kha bhai

What amazes me is that the BR gandoos never even 'thought' about ToT while contemplating these humongous orders. These people don't deserve anything less than a summary full-labor jail term for the graft they committed..

By the way the Indian coaches cost BDT 1 million more (each) compared to Indonesian coaches. Also, since Indonesia is a fellow Muslim country we should buy from them in the future....

Local press comments about sub-par quality in Indian coaches....

More lies.

120 Indian LHB broad gauge coaches were bought for Tk 425. This included, "17 air conditioned first class, 17 AC chair cars, 34 non-AC chair cars with pantry, 33 non-AC chair cars with prayer room and 19 power car coaches".

Now mind you, broad gauge coaches have higher capacity than meter gauge ones. On an average, each Indian coach cost TK 3.54 Crore.

http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/bangladesh-import-120-railway-coaches-india-415249

The Indonesian contract was worth Tk 562 Crore. This included 100 meter gauge and 50 broad gauge coaches, all of which have a lower maximum permissible speed compared to the Indian coaches. "The broad-gauge batch includes four sleeping cars, four first-class coaches, 25 non-air-conditioned saloons, eight dining cars, and five generator cars. The metre-gauge batch comprises 13 air-conditioned standard-class sleeping cars, six first-class sleepers, 24 executive cars, 36 non-air conditioned economy coaches, 13 dining cars, and eight generator cars."

The average price of Indonesian coach is Tk 3.74 Crore, 2/3rd of which are lower capacity meter gauge coaches.

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/bangladesh-railways-orders-150-coaches.html

As for the teething issues with the Indian coaches, that's expected given then poor condition of Bangladesh railway tracks. Even the Chinese coaches/DEMU faced similar issues in their initial days.

Dhaka happy with first batch of Indian coaches

http://www.thedailystar.net/city/dhaka-happy-first-batch-indian-coaches-1201537

"The first consignment have been tested by our experts…Everything is satisfactory as agreed with the Indian company," said Md Feroz Salah Uddin, railways secretary. "Our rail coaches are old and can't be repaired properly due to the shortage of coaches. Once new carriages are added, we will be able to repair the old ones thoroughly and then the service will increase significantly," he added. Consignment from Indonesia has already been shipped, he said.

 

[Bilal9]

all of which have a lower maximum permissible speed compared to the Indian coaches.

It says right there in plain Bengali that Indian coach manufacturer falsified the 'maximum permissible speed'. Typical dhokeybaji as usual - this time by the famed Indian govt. railway 'consultant' RITES. They should changed their name to WRONGS as in how many ways to WRONG foreign buyers and how to destroy India's foreign reputation of products (if there is any). They actually don't care about exports to Bangladesh because they don't really expect repeat orders but then we are the Gandoos that place repeat orders with these schmucks time and again to get screwed over...a few Takas in bribes to Bangladesh govt. officials is all it takes and Indians know it exceedingly well.

For those readers not familiar with Bengali - here goes.....

1. RITES was asked for load testing equipment for testing of the Indian-supplied coaches (BG at first) after delivery - they initially refused. Mind you - they are bound by contract to do this and their office is a few hundred miles across the border. By contract RITES was supposed to complete load testing within twenty days of delivery. This is called breach-of-contract Bhartiya style as usual. They don't give a rat's you-know-what about it....

2. The BG LHB Indian coaches are being stored before delivery to BR at the Saidpur Railway workshops. They are taking up a huge amount of space utilized for other purposes, causing logistical problems.

Due to the lack of response from RITES - twenty BG LHB Indian coaches of various types were finally trial-run and load-tested by BR itself from Saidpur Railway workshop to Ullapara Junction. The coaches were all heavily noisy and problematic with the high-speed bogies (wheel undercarriage system) - even at the rather low speed of 100 KM, much less than the claimed 'high' speed of 120 KM. The speed rating is an Indian smokescreen (as usual) to charge extra money which is wholly unwarranted. In Bangladesh 100 KM speeds (60 MPH) on level ground is very common on rail tracks.

3. Even after a delay of six months and after repeated official requests (as of this writing) RITES is yet to supply the load-testing equipment, without which (a customary test required for all newly supplied coaches and locos) equipment cannot be commissioned onto the revenue-earning trackage.

4. There is now serious doubt that the stainless steel supplied with the coaches is really stainless steel. Some people are calling it 'Indian steel' rather than Stainless. It has been found to be much lower quality than the specification agreed upon during the tender process. As a result, the life of the coaches will be halved compared to the expected (and paid for) 80 years or so.

The people of Bangladesh have been royally screwed over by Indian Govt, once more.

Indonesian products are never this bad, they don't believe in haramkhori....

New Meter Gauge coaches

As for the teething issues with the Indian coaches, that's expected given then poor condition of Bangladesh railway tracks. Even the Chinese coaches/DEMU faced similar issues in their initial days.

What BS is this?? The mainline trackage is mostly less than five years old, dual gauge, on concrete sleepers and uses clips to attach track. At the behest of the Indian Govt. our govt. has converted most of the mainline trackage to dual gauge (at great expense of its own, no less), so trains can pass from Calcutta to Agartala etc. Some of the track is even imported from India. Could the poor condition be because of the quality of the Indian track??

See below for condition of Bangladesh trackage. Poor by whose standards?? And this is not even mainline trackage....

"The first consignment have been tested by our experts…Everything is satisfactory as agreed with the Indian company," said Md Feroz Salah Uddin, railways secretary.

Railway bigwigs like this a**hole are always on Indian 'haram' payroll. But Indians can't always bribe everyone (the engineers in this case). The truth will prevail.

 

[Bilal9]

Lighting rural Bangladesh with rooftop solar & carbon credits

In the village of Aharkandhi in northeastern Bangladesh, life has changed since homeowners began installing solar panels on their roofs. At night, families gather at the local grocery store to watch TV, which boosts business. Children study longer than before.

This is due in part to a World Bank-financed electrification project to promote off-grid electricity in rural communities. This year, the project became the first renewable energy program in Bangladesh to be issued carbon credits for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and the world's first Programme of Activities for solar home systems under the UNFCCC’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to generate carbon credits.

With access to electricity, people are finding new ways to increase their income, and the word is spreading quickly across villages.

Mujib, a shopkeeper, saw his income increase by 1,000 Tk per month (about US$13), and his evening business grew after his solar home system was installed.

After Hajra installed solar panels, she was able to power five lights so her children could study, a TV, and a mobile phone charger that allows her to keep in touch with her husband, a laborer. Previously, she used kerosene, and she remembers the fumes that filled her house.

This is one of the fastest growing renewable energy programs in the world – to date, more than 3.5 million solar home systems have been installed in rural Bangladesh, creating 70,000 direct jobs.

Bolstering financing through carbon credits

Solar power is helping to green Bangladesh’s energy mix. Renewable energy accounts for less than 1 percent of the country’s energy generation, but the government aims to have 10 percent of its national grid powered by renewable energy by 2020. Adding solar panels to rural homes is an important part of the country’s sustainable development strategy.

In addition to providing energy, the solar home systems are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and earning carbon credits by reducing the use of kerosene lamps for lighting and diesel generators that had been used to charge batteries.

The program is projected to deliver 1.1 million Certified Emission Reductions, or carbon credits, by 2016, issued under the CDM. The carbon credits are sold to the World Bank’s Community Development Carbon Fund, generating a revenue stream that is shared by the companies involved in financing, installing and servicing the solar panels to expand the program.

It is also the first solar home system Programme of Activities under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism to generate carbon credits. As an approved Programme of Activities, it is able to combine 13 similar projects under one country-wide umbrella program, lowering transaction costs and creating the possibility to add similar projects in the future in a simplified process.

The sun provides light in rural Bangladesh

Benefits of solar panels abound. Communities are reporting a significant increase in the quality of life thanks to better, safer, and cheaper lighting and the ability to power electrical appliances, cell phones, TVs, and radios. Remote and poor families can now hear weather forecasts on the radio and watch the news on small TVs, which becomes more than just a luxury in a country that frequently faces severe weather.

Night lights are improving safety in the dark, especially for women and children. Replacing conventional kerosene lamps and their toxic fumes helps reduce indoor air pollution, fire hazards, and health risks such as respiratory diseases. And the solar panel industry is booming, including employing Bangladeshi women.

Solar panel subsidies help the poor

The solar panels are subsidized by the Infrastructure Development Company, Ltd. (IDCOL), a state-owned financial institution that provides families with grants and credits to pay for part of the cost and provide electricity in a country where only 60 percent of the population and about 42 percent of rural households haves access to electricity. Around 13 million rural households still live without power. Even those connected to the grid experience black-outs during peak hours because electricity supply can’t keep up with demand.

Installing solar panels has become a reliable and increasingly financially viable solution for more Bangladeshis. A 20 watt-peak system costs about US$150, which is paid by the users over three years and provides enough electricity to power two lights and one mobile charger. Bangladeshis even in the most rural areas rely on cell phones.

Overcoming the affordability barrier has been crucial in allowing for a widespread adoption of solar home systems. The cost of solar panels has come down over time, and today there is a growing trend for very small, 10 watt-peak panels, allowing poorer households gain access to electricity.

The Bangladesh program is one of the most successful solar home system programs in the world. It's a model that is bringing cheaper and more reliable electricity to remote areas of the country and has potential to go beyond Bangladesh to be scaled up in other developing countries.

Almost 400,000 carbon credits were issued for the Bangladesh Solar Homes Systems Program of Activities (POA), generated by 12 individual programs owned by Grameen Shakti (the largest Partner Organization) and IDCOL (the coordinating managing entity).

This is the biggest-ever issuance for a POA in a least developed country, and the largest issuance in Bangladesh to date.

The World Bank Group’s Community Development Carbon Fund provided support through technical assistance and is purchasing the carbon credits, creating a revenue stream for the program.

As I wrote in the blog above, this program provides access to electricity and jobs in poor rural communities by installing solar panels on the roofs of homes and small businesses. Under this POA, 2.8 million solar home systems have been installed, benefitting over 9 million people.

China-r kon company? CRC naki onno company theke kinbe?

Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co. Ltd.

http://english.cri.cn/6909/2011/08/04/2821s652007.htm

Google Street View adds more location of Bangladesh

Following the launch of Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna on Street View last year, one can now explore even more of Bangladesh on Street View with yesterday’s launch of new imagery from Barisal, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Rangpur, as well as 89 new special collects.

From the winding rivers in the south, to the lush greenery of the north, this new collection gives you a way to see the beauty, history and diversity of Bangladesh right from the palm of your hand, according to Google Street View.

Home to magnificent architecture spanning thousands of years, you can explore Bangladesh’s Mughal heritage at Dhaka’s Lalbagh Fort, see a blend of Mughal and European design at Curzon Hall, or take a walk around the ancient Paharpur Badalgachhi Upazila.

One of the world’s most important tea production countries, you can now can see for yourself how the perfect brew is grown at the Bangladeshi Tea Research Institute in Sylhet.

Continue your adventures in nature by walking along the world’s longest unbroken beach at St Martin’s Island, or by checking out some of the exotic and rare plants at the botanical gardens in Dhaka.

We hope that visiting Bangladesh with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and history of this beautiful country around the world. Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or are inspired to visit in person, we invite you to enjoy visiting the Land of the Tiger.

 

[TopCat]

New Meter Gauge coaches

l.

Who supplied those beaten up coaches? Are they refurbished or what?

 

[Roybot]

It says right there in plain Bengali that Indian coach manufacturer falsified the 'maximum permissible speed'. Typical dhokeybaji as usual - this time by the famed Indian govt. railway 'consultant' RITES. They should changed their name to WRONGS as in how many ways to WRONG foreign buyers and how to destroy India's foreign reputation of products (if there is any). They actually don't care about exports to Bangladesh because they don't really expect repeat orders but then we are the Gandoos that place repeat orders with these schmucks time and again to get screwed over...a few Takas in bribes to Bangladesh govt. officials is all it takes and Indians know it exceedingly well.

For those readers not familiar with Bengali - here goes.....

1. RITES was asked for load testing equipment for testing of the Indian-supplied coaches (BG at first) after delivery - they initially refused. Mind you - they are bound by contract to do this and their office is a few hundred miles across the border. By contract RITES was supposed to complete load testing within twenty days of delivery. This is called breach-of-contract Bhartiya style as usual. They don't give a rat's you-know-what about it....

2. The BG LHB Indian coaches are being stored before delivery to BR at the Saidpur Railway workshops. They are taking up a huge amount of space utilized for other purposes, causing logistical problems.

Due to the lack of response from RITES - twenty BG LHB Indian coaches of various types were finally trial-run and load-tested by BR itself from Saidpur Railway workshop to Ullapara Junction, a distance of twenty miles. The coaches were all heavily noisy and problematic with the high-speed bogies (wheel undercarriage system) - even at the rather low speed of 100 KM, much less than the claimed 'high' speed of 120 KM. The speed rating is an Indian smokescreen (as usual) to charge extra money which is wholly unwarranted. In Bangladesh 100 KM speeds (60 MPH) on level ground is very common on rail tracks.

3. Even after a delay of six months and after repeated official requests (as of this writing) RITES is yet to supply the load-testing equipment, without which (a customary test required for all newly supplied coaches and locos) equipment cannot be commissioned onto the revenue-earning trackage.

4. There is now serious doubt that the stainless steel supplied with the coaches is really stainless steel. It has been found to be much lower quality than the specification agreed upon during the tender process. As a result, the life of the coaches will be halved compared to the expected (and paid for) 80 years or so.

The people of Bangladesh have been royally screwed over by Indian Govt, once more.



What BS is this?? The mainline trackage is mostly less than five years old, dual gauge, on concrete sleepers and uses clips to attach track. At the behest of the Indian Govt. our govt. has converted most of the mainline trackage to dual gauge (at great expense of its own, no less), so trains can pass from Calcutta to Agartala etc.



Railway bigwigs like this a**hole are always on Indian 'haram' payroll. But Indians can't always bribe everyone (the engineers in this case). The truth will prevail.

It says right there in plain Bengali that Indian coach manufacturer falsified the 'maximum permissible speed'. Typical dhokeybaji as usual - this time by the famed Indian govt. railway 'consultant' RITES. They should changed their name to WRONGS as in how many ways to WRONG foreign buyers and how to destroy India's foreign reputation of products (if there is any). They actually don't care about exports to Bangladesh because they don't really expect repeat orders but then we are the Gandoos that place repeat orders with these schmucks time and again to get screwed over...a few Takas in bribes to Bangladesh govt. officials is all it takes and Indians know it exceedingly well.

For those readers not familiar with Bengali - here goes.....

1. RITES was asked for load testing equipment for testing of the Indian-supplied coaches (BG at first) after delivery - they initially refused. Mind you - they are bound by contract to do this and their office is a few hundred miles across the border. By contract RITES was supposed to complete load testing within twenty days of delivery. This is called breach-of-contract Bhartiya style as usual. They don't give a rat's you-know-what about it....

2. The BG LHB Indian coaches are being stored before delivery to BR at the Saidpur Railway workshops. They are taking up a huge amount of space utilized for other purposes, causing logistical problems.

Due to the lack of response from RITES - twenty BG LHB Indian coaches of various types were finally trial-run and load-tested by BR itself from Saidpur Railway workshop to Ullapara Junction. The coaches were all heavily noisy and problematic with the high-speed bogies (wheel undercarriage system) - even at the rather low speed of 100 KM, much less than the claimed 'high' speed of 120 KM. The speed rating is an Indian smokescreen (as usual) to charge extra money which is wholly unwarranted. In Bangladesh 100 KM speeds (60 MPH) on level ground is very common on rail tracks.

3. Even after a delay of six months and after repeated official requests (as of this writing) RITES is yet to supply the load-testing equipment, without which (a customary test required for all newly supplied coaches and locos) equipment cannot be commissioned onto the revenue-earning trackage.

4. There is now serious doubt that the stainless steel supplied with the coaches is really stainless steel. Some people are calling it 'Indian steel' rather than Stainless. It has been found to be much lower quality than the specification agreed upon during the tender process. As a result, the life of the coaches will be halved compared to the expected (and paid for) 80 years or so.

The people of Bangladesh have been royally screwed over by Indian Govt, once more.

Indonesian products are never this bad, they don't believe in haramkhori....

New Meter Gauge coaches

What BS is this?? The mainline trackage is mostly less than five years old, dual gauge, on concrete sleepers and uses clips to attach track. At the behest of the Indian Govt. our govt. has converted most of the mainline trackage to dual gauge (at great expense of its own, no less), so trains can pass from Calcutta to Agartala etc. Some of the track is even imported from India. Could the poor condition be because of the quality of the Indian track??

See below for condition of Bangladesh trackage. Poor by whose standards?? And this is not even mainline trackage....

Railway bigwigs like this a**hole are always on Indian 'haram' payroll. But Indians can't always bribe everyone (the engineers in this case). The truth will prevail.

You really are a special case. So many lies.

Couple of things, that is a single gauge line, not dual gauge. The first lot of LHB coaches reached Bangladesh around end of March 2016, so I don't understand how there can be a delay of 6 months already! Can Bangladeshis time travel?

You don't need load testing equipment for speed test, Oscillation test yes, but I don't think load testing is required. Am not sure if that was part of the deal or not. Are the Indonesian coaches certified already?

Good grief, there is no coach in the world which has a service life of 80 years! LHB coaches in use on the Indian Railways network have a life of 35 years.

Am guessing the Indonesian coaches don't need to be stored and hence take up no space as they started plying on the BR network the moment they were offloaded at the port right?

It's just typical India hatred that's leading to these unsubstantiated allegations. Bangladesh needs to do its own research before buying equipment. The Chinese DEMU has been a failure as well, constant breakdowns and very unpopular with the passengers. It needs to upgrade its tracks and platforms and order rolling stock accordingly.

Lastly do we know if the track these lhb coaches were tested on is meant for more than 100Km/hr speed?

Who supplied those beaten up coaches? Are they refurbished or what?

Indonesia

Don't expect first world product for a third world price.

 

[Boss Dragun]

Economy class train coach in the making.

 

[Nike]

You really are a special case. So many lies.

Couple of things, that is a single gauge line, not dual gauge. The first lot of LHB coaches reached Bangladesh around end of March 2016, so I don't understand how there can be a delay of 6 months already! Can Bangladeshis time travel?

You don't need load testing equipment for speed test, Oscillation test yes, but I don't think load testing is required. Am not sure if that was part of the deal or not. Are the Indonesian coaches certified already?

Good grief, there is no coach in the world which has a service life of 80 years! LHB coaches in use on the Indian Railways network have a life of 35 years.

Am guessing the Indonesian coaches don't need to be stored and hence take up no space as they started plying on the BR network the moment they were offloaded at the port right?

It's just typical India hatred that's leading to these unsubstantiated allegations. Bangladesh needs to do its own research before buying equipment. The Chinese DEMU has been a failure as well, constant breakdowns and very unpopular with the passengers. It needs to upgrade its tracks and platforms and order rolling stock accordingly.

Lastly do we know if the track these lhb coaches were tested on is meant for more than 100Km/hr speed?



Indonesia

Don't expect first world product for a third world price.

i am not sure from where your knowledge is come from, as far as i know India is in much worsen condition than Indonesia

 

[Bilal9]

Couple of things, that is a single gauge line, not dual gauge.

Thank you - Captain obvious. The image was supposed to show the quality of the track, not if it was single or double gauge.

I don't think load testing is required

Load-testing was stipulated as part of the contract. RITES has a breach of contract on their hands. I'm surprised the contract didn't have penalties stipulated for breach of contract.

Are the Indonesian coaches certified already

Indonesian load-testing was completed and rolled out on time. They are not Bhartiya foot-draggers like RITES....

Am guessing the Indonesian coaches don't need to be stored

Like I said, they were load-tested and put into service quite quickly.

India hatred that's leading to these unsubstantiated allegations

You can hate India - but why hate a product? The product was judged on its own (de)merits as it is shoddily made.

Bangladesh needs to do its own research before buying equipment.

That I will agree with. Nera shudhu beltolai ekbar na - bar bar giyechhey.

Lastly do we know if the track these lhb coaches were tested on is meant for more than 100Km/hr speed

No - all of a sudden, trackage is the culprit now? 60 MPH or 100 KMPH is routine speeds for Bangladesh railways. Design speed is a bit higher at 150 KMPH.

Don't expect first world product for a third world price

Oh I'm sure now India is all of a sudden a purveyor of first-world railway equipment. A bit rich coming from an Indian.

i am not sure from where your knowledge is come from, as far as i know India is in much worsen condition than Indonesia

I know - right?

Lets educate this Indian guy because Google is clearly not his friend....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Indonesia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kereta_Api_Indonesia#Indonesian_Railways_diesel_locomotive_classes

Indonesia dieselized in 1953. Indians were still running steam locos in late 70's.

 

[Roybot]

i am not sure from where your knowledge is come from, as far as i know India is in much worsen condition than Indonesia

And what has that got to do with anything? Those coaches are from Indonesia, arent they?

 

[Species]

i am not sure from where your knowledge is come from, as far as i know India is in much worsen condition than Indonesia

That's India's ancient Vedic knowledge. According to the Vedic theory, Indonesia is part of Greater India, so Indonesia's development is adding up to the India's development and hence, India is more developed than Indonesia.

 

[Arthur]

i am not sure from where your knowledge is come from, as far as i know India is in much worsen condition than Indonesia

I know - right?

Lets educate this Indian guy because Google is clearly not his friend....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Indonesia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kereta_Api_Indonesia#Indonesian_Railways_diesel_locomotive_classes

Indonesia dieselized in 1953. Indians were still running steam locos in late 70's.

Quality of the Indonesian supplied coaches are good. BR usually buys new coaches for it's first line services like intercity 'Suborno ', 'Silk City ' etc. and downgrade the older ones to second line services.The average expected service period of these new coaches in first line is 3 to 4 years.

Interesting thing is Indian supplied coaches were put down from first line service after two years, while Indonesian made coaches got a extension of 2 years after fulfilling the expected years of first line service.

Performance speaks! doesn't it??!

 

[Arthur]

Home > Economy
PM to inaugurate BRT, metrorail work on Jun 26
Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 2016-06-16 15:08:23.0 BdST Updated: 2016-06-16 20:00:00.0 BdST


The construction of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and a metrorail system in Dhaka will be officially flagged off on Jun 26.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the two projects during a ceremony at Banganbandhu International Conference Centre.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told a media briefing on Thursday that this will help "expedite the implementation of two projects on schedule."

Metrorail

Preparations for the Metrorail project were underway and work would now begin, he said. The construction of the depots had already started.

Metrorail’s Route-6, from Uttara to Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar, will be elevated all the way.

The route would have six stations, while trains would carry 60,000 passengers both ways every hour, he said.

In the first phase, the trains will go up to Agargaon in 2019, while the extension to Motijheel will be completed by 2020.

Bids have been invited for six of the eight project packages, and the deal for one has already been finalised.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing Tk 165.95 billion of the Tk 220 billion project covering a distance of 20km.

The minister also talked about two other routes: Routes 1 and 5.

Route-1 will run from Gazipur to Keraniganj’s Jhilmil project.

The first phase of the construction will extend from the airport to Kamalapur, and from Khilkhet to Purbachal.

Ten kilometres of this 27-km track will be underground.

The plan for Route-5 has been finalised to connect the metropolis from east to west. The 35-km track will lie between Bhulta in Narayanganj to Gabtoli.

The primary phase, comprising 17-km from Bhatara to Gabtoli-Hemayetpur, will include six kilometres of underground tracks.

JICA has already started the feasibility studies for Route-1 and 5, said the minister.

BRT

The road transport minister said the Bus Rapid Transit was intended to make travel between central Dhaka and Uttara and Tongi easy.

He said more commuters will be able to avail fast, cheap, and environment-friendly travel by the BRT, while the capital would be freed of gridlocks.

Obaidul Quader said around 25,000 people would be able to commute hourly once the transit was up and running. Buses would leave the stations every three minutes.

"There will be 25 stations on the 20.5-km BRT route from the Gazipur terminal to the airport. Six flyovers will also be built."

Elaborating on the government's plan, he said 4.5km - Uttara to Tongi - of the total route length would be an elevated lane.

"The remaining 16 kilometres will be on the ground. Altogether 100 articulated buses will run on this route. Commuters will use electronic smart cards to pay bus fares."

The minister said the government, Asian Development Bank, French Development Agency and Global Environmental Facility Fund are jointly funding the Tk 20.4 billion project.

"We've already finished the preparatory work and begun implementing it. We hope to open the BRT in December 2018," he added.

Source: https://defence.pk/threads/developments-in-bangladesh.184826/page-28#ixzz4Bm1ROidc

 

[Arthur]

Home > Economy
PM to inaugurate BRT, metrorail work on Jun 26
Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 2016-06-16 15:08:23.0 BdST Updated: 2016-06-16 20:00:00.0 BdST


The construction of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and a metrorail system in Dhaka will be officially flagged off on Jun 26.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the two projects during a ceremony at Banganbandhu International Conference Centre.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told a media briefing on Thursday that this will help "expedite the implementation of two projects on schedule."

Metrorail

Preparations for the Metrorail project were underway and work would now begin, he said. The construction of the depots had already started.

Metrorail’s Route-6, from Uttara to Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar, will be elevated all the way.

The route would have six stations, while trains would carry 60,000 passengers both ways every hour, he said.

In the first phase, the trains will go up to Agargaon in 2019, while the extension to Motijheel will be completed by 2020.

Bids have been invited for six of the eight project packages, and the deal for one has already been finalised.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing Tk 165.95 billion of the Tk 220 billion project covering a distance of 20km.

The minister also talked about two other routes: Routes 1 and 5.

Route-1 will run from Gazipur to Keraniganj’s Jhilmil project.

The first phase of the construction will extend from the airport to Kamalapur, and from Khilkhet to Purbachal.

Ten kilometres of this 27-km track will be underground.

The plan for Route-5 has been finalised to connect the metropolis from east to west. The 35-km track will lie between Bhulta in Narayanganj to Gabtoli.

The primary phase, comprising 17-km from Bhatara to Gabtoli-Hemayetpur, will include six kilometres of underground tracks.

JICA has already started the feasibility studies for Route-1 and 5, said the minister.

BRT

The road transport minister said the Bus Rapid Transit was intended to make travel between central Dhaka and Uttara and Tongi easy.

He said more commuters will be able to avail fast, cheap, and environment-friendly travel by the BRT, while the capital would be freed of gridlocks.

Obaidul Quader said around 25,000 people would be able to commute hourly once the transit was up and running. Buses would leave the stations every three minutes.

"There will be 25 stations on the 20.5-km BRT route from the Gazipur terminal to the airport. Six flyovers will also be built."

Elaborating on the government's plan, he said 4.5km - Uttara to Tongi - of the total route length would be an elevated lane.

"The remaining 16 kilometres will be on the ground. Altogether 100 articulated buses will run on this route. Commuters will use electronic smart cards to pay bus fares."

The minister said the government, Asian Development Bank, French Development Agency and Global Environmental Facility Fund are jointly funding the Tk 20.4 billion project.

"We've already finished the preparatory work and begun implementing it. We hope to open the BRT in December 2018," he added.




http://bdnews24.com/economy/2016/06/16/pm-to-inaugurate-brt-metrorail-work-on-jun-26

 

[Roybot]

Quality of the Indonesian supplied coaches are good. BR usually buys new coaches for it's first line services like intercity 'Suborno ', 'Silk City ' etc. and downgrade the older ones to second line services.The average expected service period of these new coaches in first line is 3 to 4 years.

Interesting thing is Indian supplied coaches were put down from first line service after two years, while Indonesian made coaches got a extension of 2 years after fulfilling the expected years of first line service.

Performance speaks! doesn't it??!

Don't you lots ever get sick of lying? India hasn't even supplied coaches to BR before this, but still according to you Indian supplied coaches were put down from first line service after 2 years?

Bunch of liars, Roza rakh kar bhi jhoot bol raho ho, sharam kar lo

Load-testing was stipulated as part of the contract. RITES has a breach of contract on their hands. I'm surprised the contract didn't have penalties stipulated for breach of contract.

Indonesian load-testing was completed and rolled out on time. They are not Bhartiya foot-draggers like RITES....

That's a separate contract, that involves upgrading Saidpur Railway workshop, and has nothing to do with the supply of railway coaches. The coaches, be it in Indian or Indonesian are tested at the source and certified. Only the oscillation test needs to be conducted on the BR network.

Like I said, they were load-tested and put into service quite quickly.

Yeah that's why they are still sitting in the siding, and aren't in active service yet, right?

No - all of a sudden, trackage is the culprit now? 60 MPH or 100 KMPH is routine speeds for Bangladesh railways. Design speed is a bit higher at 150 KMPH.

Bollocks, 100 KMPH is the routine speed on BR network , design speed of 150KMPH

I get it, you are enthusiastic about Bangladesh developing and all, and trust me so am I, but there is no need to lie and make a fool out of yourself.

46 Km of Bangladesh Network has top speed of 95 KMPH, that's a whopping 1.5% of the total Bangladesh railway network. 50% of the total track has maximum speed limit of 50 KMPH. and 40% of the total Bangladesh railway network has a top speed of 25 KMPH!

Oh I'm sure now India is all of a sudden a purveyor of first-world railway equipment. A bit rich coming from an Indian.



I know - right?

Lets educate this Indian guy because Google is clearly not his friend....

@madokafc I wasn't talking about Indonesian railways, I was talking about the coaches supplied by the Indonesian company to BR. As @iajdani noted they looked beaten up and refurbished, he probably thought they were Indian

Indonesia does make top notch coaches, but they usually cost more. The ones supplied to Bangladesh is their most low tech and cheapest product. Just like China makes top notch railway rolling stock, but the DEMU supplied to Bangladesh is the cheapest product they have and isn't their best.

 

[Bilal9]

Don't you lots ever get sick of lying? India hasn't even supplied coaches to BR before this, but still according to you Indian supplies coaches were put down from first line service after 2 years?

Please hide your bewakoofi .

Putting laughing emoticons everywhere only means you have little clue about Bangladesh Railway's operations (if any) and you're trying to hide it. Googling everything on the iNternet will only give you ahalf *** picture, India has been trying to supply Broad gauge coaches to Bangladesh since 1971 without success. Meter Gauge always came from somewhere else (Iran, Indonesia, China).

Your incompetent RITES and Indian coach suppliers could not meet the low standards of even BR until now (whose sub-par standards are well known in Bangladesh). I'm guessing you can read Bengali. So read the articles below from 2013 and weep.....

প্রত্যাহার হচ্ছে ভারতীয় ঋণের চার প্রকল্প

ভারতীয় একশ' কোটি ডলার ঋণের আওতায় চারটি প্রকল্প বাস্তবায়নে সমস্যা দেখা দেওয়ায় প্রকল্পগুলো ভারতীয় ঋণে বাস্তবায়ন তালিকা থেকে প্রত্যাহার করা হতে পারে। এর মধ্যে তিনটি রেল মন্ত্রণালয়ের, একটি নৌপরিবহন মন্ত্রণালয় ও পানি উন্নয়ন বোর্ডের প্রকল্প। এসব প্রকল্পের সম্মিলিত ব্যয় ধরা হয় ১৭ কোটি ৫০ লাখ ডলার বা প্রায় ১ হাজার ৪০০ কোটি টাকা। প্রকল্পগুলো শেষ পর্যন্ত প্রত্যাহারের সিদ্ধান্ত হলে ভারতীয় ঋণ ব্যবহার নিশ্চিত করতে দ্রুত বাস্তবায়নযোগ্য নতুন প্রকল্প গ্রহণ করা হতে পারে।

আজ এসব প্রকল্পের বিষয়ে চূড়ান্ত সিদ্ধান্ত নিতে সংশ্লিষ্ট মন্ত্রণালয় ও অর্থনৈতিক সম্পর্ক বিভাগের (ইআরডি) সঙ্গে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর অর্থনৈতিক উপদেষ্টা ড. মসিউর রহমান বৈঠকে বসছেন। শেরেবাংলা নগরের এনইসি সম্মেলন কক্ষে এ বৈঠক অনুষ্ঠিত হবে। সংশ্লিষ্ট সূত্রে এসব তথ্য জানা গেছে।

সূত্র জানায়, সমস্যাকবলিত প্রকল্পের মধ্যে তিনটি হচ্ছে রেল মন্ত্রণালয়ের প্রকল্প। এর মধ্যে একটি ভারত থেকে 'পাঁচ সেট ডেমু ট্রেন আমদানি' প্রকল্প। এসব ট্রেন দেশের দূরপাল্লার যাত্রী পরিবহনে উপযোগী নয়। অতিরিক্ত উঁচু হওয়ায় রেলের বিদ্যমান অবকাঠামোর সঙ্গে ধাক্কা খেয়ে যে কোনো সময় দুর্ঘটনা ঘটার আশঙ্কা রয়েছে। এ ছাড়া এসব ট্রেন বাংলাদেশের আবহাওয়া উপযোগী না হওয়ায় যাত্রীদের দুর্ভোগও পোহাতে হবে। যেমন এসব ট্রেনের জানালা ছোট হওয়ায় ভেতরে অবাধ আলো-বাতাস থাকে না। সম্প্রতি প্রকল্পটির টেন্ডার মূল্যায়ন কমিটির বৈঠকে রেল মন্ত্রণালয় এসব অভিযোগ উত্থাপন করে ভারত থেকে ডেমু ট্রেন আমদানির বিষয়ে আপত্তি জানিয়েছে।

দ্বিতীয় প্রকল্পটি হচ্ছে, ৭ কোটি ৭২ লাখ ডলার দিয়ে ভারত থেকে ৭০টি ব্রডগেজ যাত্রী বগি আমদানি প্রকল্প। জানা যায়, দেশে ব্রডগেজ লাইন নির্মাণ করা হয়েছে শুধু উত্তরবঙ্গে। দেশের অন্যান্য প্রান্তে চলে শুধু মিটার গেজ। বর্তমানে উত্তরবঙ্গে যেসব ব্রডগেজ ট্রেন চলে সেসব ট্রেন যাত্রীর অভাবে ভুগছে। এমন পরিস্থিতিতে নতুন করে আরও ৭০টি ব্রডগেজ রেল আমদানি করা দেশের অর্থ অপচয় ছাড়া কিছু না। তাই প্রকল্পটি বাস্তবায়নে আগ্রহী নয় রেল মন্ত্রণালয়।

আরেকটি প্রকল্প হচ্ছে, খুলনা থেকে শাহবাজপুর পর্যন্ত ব্রডগেজ রেললাইন নির্মাণ। এর ব্যয় ৫ কোটি ৪৪ লাখ ডলার। জানা যায়, ওই রুটে বর্তমানে রেল যোগাযোগ নেই। ব্রিটিশ সরকারের আমলে ওই রুটে রেল যোগাযোগ ছিল। কিন্তু দীর্ঘদিন রেল চলাচল না থাকায় রেল বিট নষ্ট হয়ে গেলেও নতুন রুট করার মতো অবকাঠামো রয়েছে। ওই অবকাঠামোতে নতুন রাস্তা তৈরি করতে ভারতের প্রস্তাবে প্রকল্পটি গ্রহণ করা হয়। ভারতের যুক্তি, রেললাইনটি নির্মাণ করা হলে ভারতের করিমগঞ্জের সঙ্গে নতুন একটি ট্রানজিট পয়েন্ট সৃষ্টি করা সম্ভব হবে। কিন্তু ওই এলাকা দিয়ে ভারতের সঙ্গে বাংলাদেশের কোনো ট্রানজিট না থাকায় ওই প্রকল্পটি বাস্তবায়নে আগ্রহী নয় সংশ্লিষ্টরা।

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নকশা অনুযায়ী এসি কোচ দিতে পারছে না রাইটস লিমিটেড

ইসমাইল আলী | তারিখ: ০৪-০৯-২০১৩

ভারতের ঋণে ৭০টি ব্রডগেজ এসি কোচ ক্রয়ে জটিলতা দেখা দিয়েছে। পশ্চিমাঞ্চল রেলের জন্য যে ধরনের কোচ চাওয়া হয়েছে, তা তৈরি করে না ভারতের রাইটস লিমিটেড। যে নকশার কোচ দিতে চায় প্রতিষ্ঠানটি, বাংলাদেশ রেলওয়ের অবকাঠামোয় তা উপযুক্ত নয়। ফলে আটকে যাচ্ছে এসি কোচ কেনার প্রকল্পটি।

জানা গেছে, ভারতের এসি কোচ তুলনামূলক বেশি উঁচু (তিন টায়ারের)। ব্রডগেজ হওয়ায় এসব কোচ রেলওয়ের পশ্চিমাঞ্চলে চালাতে হবে। তবে হার্ডিঞ্জ ব্রিজসহ পশ্চিমাঞ্চল রেলের বেশকিছু রেল সেতু অনেক নিচু। এসব সেতু দিয়ে দুই টায়ারের বেশি উচ্চতার কোচ চালানো ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ। এতে ভারতের তৈরি এসি কোচ যেকোনো সময় আটকে যেতে পারে। পাশাপাশি এগুলো চালাতে গিয়ে প্রতিনিয়ত দুর্ঘটনার আশঙ্কা রয়েছে। দুর্ভোগ পোহাতে হবে যাত্রীদেরও।

রেলের একাধিক কর্মকর্তা জানান, বাংলাদেশের সাধারণ মানুষ ট্রেনের ছাদেও চলাচল করে। বিশেষ করে ঈদের সময় এ প্রবণতা বহুগুণ বেড়ে যায়। ভারতের কোচ বেশি উঁচু বলে ছাদের যাত্রীদের রেল সেতুর রেলিংয়ের সঙ্গে ধাক্কা লেগে দুর্ঘটনার কবলে পড়ার আশঙ্কা থাকবে।

রেলওয়ের তথ্যমতে, দরপত্রে কোচের যেসব বৈশিষ্ট্য (স্পেসিফিকেশন) উল্লেখ করা হয়েছিল, তা পূরণ করতে পারেনি সরবরাহকারী প্রতিষ্ঠান ভারতের রাইটস লিমিটেড। স্পেসিফিকেশন না মেলায় কারিগরি মূল্যায়ন কমিটির (টিইসি) সুপারিশের ভিত্তিতে ৭০টি এসি কোচের দরপত্র বাতিল করা হয়েছে।

এ প্রসঙ্গে বাংলাদেশ রেলওয়ের মহাপরিচালক প্রকৌশলী মো. আবু তাহের বলেন, ‘রেলওয়ে কোচ সংকট রয়েছে। তবে আমাদের স্পেসিফিকেশন অনুযায়ী সরবরাহ করতে না পারলে কোচ কেনা হবে না। ৭০টি এসি কোচ কেনার জন্য আরেক দফা দরপত্র আহ্বান করা হবে। সরবরাহকারী প্রতিষ্ঠান তার পরও ব্যর্থ হলে লাইন অব ক্রেডিট (এলওসি) থেকে প্রকল্পটি বাদ দেয়ার সুপারিশ করা হতে পারে।’

রেলওয়ের তথ্যানুযায়ী, ৭০টি এসি কোচ কেনায় ব্যয় ধরা হয়েছে ৯১৩ কোটি ৭৭ লাখ টাকা। এর মধ্যে ভারতের ৬৩৭ কোটি ২৭ লাখ টাকা ঋণ দেয়ার কথা রয়েছে। বাকি ২৭৬ কোটি ৫০ লাখ টাকা চাওয়া হয়েছে সরকারি তহবিল থেকে। গত বছরের নভেম্বরে প্রকল্পটির দরপত্র আহ্বানের পর টিইসির সুপারিশের ভিত্তিতে গত জুনে তা বাতিল করা হয়। ৩ জুলাই পুনরায় প্রকল্পটির দরপত্র আহ্বান করা হয়। ৫ সেপ্টেম্বর দরপত্র জমা দেয়ার শেষ তারিখ ধার্য করা হলেও এখনো কোনো সাড়া পাওয়া যায়নি। এজন্য দরপত্র জমা দেয়ার সময়সীমা এক মাস বাড়ানো হয়েছে।

এদিকে ১৮ জুন ভারতের এসি কোচের নকশা নিয়ে আপত্তি জানায় পরিকল্পনা কমিশন। আমদানি প্রক্রিয়ার অংশ হিসেবে মে মাসে রেলওয়ের কর্মকর্তারা ভারতের চেন্নাইয়ে গিয়ে রাইটসের কারখানা পরিদর্শন করেন এবং কোচের নকশা নিয়ে আসেন। পরিকল্পনা কমিশন ওই নকশা পর্যালোচনা করে এতে অসামঞ্জস্য দেখতে পায়। কোচগুলো বাংলাদেশ রেলওয়ের অবকাঠামোর সঙ্গে সামঞ্জস্য বিধানের বিষয়টি নিশ্চিত করতে বলে কমিশন। এক্ষেত্রে বিশেষজ্ঞদের মতামতও নিতে বলা হয়।

এ প্রসঙ্গে বাংলাদেশ রেলওয়ের অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক (রোলিং স্টক) মো. খলিলুর রহমান বলেন, 'সবকিছু যাচাই-বাছাই করে ভারত থেকে এসি কোচ কেনার সিদ্ধান্ত নেয়া হয়েছে। তাই আমাদের স্পেসিফিকেশন অনুসরণ না করলে এগুলো কেনা হবে না।’

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That's a separate contract, that involves upgrading Saidpur Railway workshop, and has nothing to do with the supply of railway coaches. The coaches, be it in Indian or Indonesian are tested at the source and certified.

Nice slipping and sliding move. This is all about railway coaches. Upgrading Saidpur is not being done by RCF Kapurthala. Saidpur upgrade is being done by another large Indian govt. machine tools and forging company.

The first Bengali article clearly stated that per contractual agreement load-testing is to be done 'after' delievry - on Bangladesh soil. And it is (read it clealry) LOAD TEST, not oscillation test.

You have absolutely no solid information and are gripping at straws...

46 Km of Bangladesh Network has top speed of 95 KMPH, that's a whopping 1.5% of the total Bangladesh railway network. 60% of the total track has maximum speed limit of 50 KMPH. and 40% of the total Bangladesh railway network has a top speed of 25 KMPH!

That fancy graph you're showing is about average speeds. Not actual speed limits.