Bangladesh Railway (BR) will purchase 150 metre-gauge carriages from South Korea to meet its growing demand for passenger trains by replacing old ones gradually.
Bangladesh signed a contract of Tk 6.58 billion with a joint venture Korean company at Rail Bhaban in the city on Wednesday.
Project Director Mohammad Hasan Monsur and Country Manager of Posco International signed the contract on behalf of respective sides.
Railway Minister Mohammad Nurul Islam Sujon was present at the signing ceremony. Railway Secretary Mohammad Selim Reza and Director General of BR Mohammad Shamsuzzaman and other BR high officials also attended the programme.
BR has been purchasing the carriages under Korean EXIM bank-funded project under which 20 more diesel electronic locomotives will also be bought.
According to the contract, the joint venture company will supply the carriages from 18 months to 30 months from the date of signing.
The railway minister hoped that with the insertion of the carriages into the BR fleet, aged old metre-gauge carriages will be replaced to improve the passenger services.
He said in addition, growing demand for passenger trains on metre gauge will also be met and BR’s income will be increased.
The minister also said the imported carriages will have modern system including stainless steel body, bio toilet, automatic air break system and automatic sliding doors. Besides, 30 sleeping berths, 38 air conditioned chair coaches, 44 shovon chair coaches including food coach and a bullet proof coach.❑
