Bangladesh plans rail links for all Chattogram port terminals
Bangladesh Railway (BR) has moved to bring all existing and planned Chattogram seaport terminals into a rail-connectivity programme, aligning the country’s main port with a government target to move more cargo from roads to rail for smoother and lower-cost freight movement.
The Logistics Policy 2025 sets a target to raise the rail share of freight to 20 per cent from the current 2 to 3 per cent, with expected benefits for carbon emissions, fuel use and road congestion by transferring cargo to more energy-efficient rail transport.
Under the Green Rail project, feasibility work will assess better links with operating and new terminals at Chattogram, which carries almost 90 per cent of Bangladesh’s export-import activity, BR project officials said. The port does not have equally direct or adequate freight rail links with all five terminals currently in operation, the local media reported.
The operating facilities include older terminal areas, the General Cargo Berth (GCB), Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) and conventional jetty areas, as well as Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) and New-mooring Container Terminal (NCT). Laldia Container Terminal (LCT) and Bay Terminal are in development.
BR project officials said existing port rail tracks are old metre-gauge lines, so they would need to be integrated with the railway’s future broad-gauge freight-movement plan. Freight-rail capacity and use of rail access at CCT and NCT remain limited, while terminals under construction also need to be included in the overall connectivity plan.
Through the technical project, titled Green Railway Transport Project Preparation Facility Project, BR has also taken steps to improve the Dhaka-Chattogram freight corridor and rail connectivity from Faujdarhat to Chattogram Goods Port Yard (CGPY) and the CGPY Yard.
The same planning work will examine CGPY connectivity with the Bay Terminal Link and studies on procurement of freight locomotives, a relief crane, wheel-lathe facilities and a loco shed at CGPY. The work is intended to support suitable loading tracks, container-handling equipment, storage, shunting space and coordinated truck and rail operations.
The World Bank-funded Tk 930 million (~$7.5 million) project will update the feasibility study and conceptual design for a rail link connecting a logistics hub at Mirsharai Economic Zone and a track-maintenance workshop at Chattogram, among other components. Project officials said all studies are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027.
Officials expect the Green Rail project to improve the carbon-emission situation, saying rail transport emits 6 to 10 per cent less carbon than road transport.
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