Commuter rail network to ease Dhaka pressure

The government plans to rapidly bring districts surrounding Dhaka under an expanded commuter rail network to ease the capital’s population and employment pressure, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said on Monday.

He said the government wants to develop a transport system that will allow people living outside Dhaka to reach the capital within two to two-and-a-half hours, complete their daily work and return home.

He made the remarks at Kamalapur Railway Station while inaugurating the new Abhijatri Commuter train on the Dhaka-Gopalganj-Dhaka route via the Padma Bridge.

Sheikh Rabiul said reducing pressure on Dhaka and improving connectivity for people living in surrounding areas were the main objectives of expanding the commuter network.

Better rail links with neighbouring districts would also reduce the tendency of people to move permanently to Dhaka, he said.

The new train will operate daily in both directions on the 148-kilometre Dhaka-Gopalganj route.
Train No. 135, the Abhijatri Commuter, will leave Dhaka at 3:30pm and reach Gopalganj at 6:45pm. Train No. 136 will depart Gopalganj at 7:15pm and arrive in Dhaka at 10:25pm.