The proposed 81-kilometre railway line could cut the distance between Dhaka and Chattogram by 80 kilometres and reduce travel time by up to two hours, but its enormous cost and implementation timeline remain key questions.
Bangladesh is considering a major railway project that could make one of the country's busiest transport corridors shorter and faster. The Ministry of Railways has proposed an 81-kilometre elevated railway line connecting Shyampur in Dhaka with Cumilla, creating an alternative route for trains travelling between Dhaka and Chattogram.
The project has a preliminary estimated cost of Tk 83,901 crore, or approximately Tk 839 billion. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman disclosed the proposal at a government briefing on October 13, 2026, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the national news agency.
If implemented as proposed, the railway could shorten the existing rail distance between Dhaka and Chattogram by around 80 kilometres and reduce journey times by approximately one and a half to two hours.
However, the project remains a proposal rather than an operational railway. The final decision on whether the entire line will be elevated has yet to be made at the highest level of government.
What the Proposed Railway Would Change
The proposed line would begin at Shyampur in Dhaka and connect to Cumilla, providing an alternative railway route that could reduce the distance trains need to travel towards Chattogram.
The Ministry of Railways has proposed constructing the entire route on elevated structures. This approach could reduce the need to acquire large areas of land along the railway corridor while creating a dedicated route for train operations.
According to details reported by BSS and Prothom Alo, the proposed railway would use double-track broad-gauge infrastructure. It would have a maximum design speed of 160 kilometres per hour and an operating speed of up to 140 kilometres per hour.
The project would also be designed to accommodate electric train operations in the future.
These specifications suggest that the proposal is intended to do more than shorten the route. It could also provide infrastructure capable of supporting faster and potentially more efficient rail services as Bangladesh modernises its railway network.
Actual journey times, however, would depend on the completed route, train services, station arrangements, signalling systems and operational planning.
Why the Government Is Considering an Elevated Line
Land acquisition is one of the major challenges facing large infrastructure projects in densely populated Bangladesh.
A railway constructed at ground level can require substantial land, potentially affecting homes, businesses, agricultural areas and other existing uses. An elevated structure may reduce the amount of land needed for the railway corridor, although it still requires foundations, construction access and supporting infrastructure.
Government information reported by Prothom Alo indicates that an entirely elevated route could save approximately 322 acres of land.
The alternative would be a combination of embankments and elevated sections. Under the preliminary estimates, that approach would cost approximately Tk 73,577 crore, compared with Tk 83,901 crore for a fully elevated railway.
The difference is roughly Tk 10,324 crore.
The government therefore faces a significant planning decision. A fully elevated line could reduce land requirements, while a mixed design could lower the initial construction cost. The final choice would need to balance land use, engineering requirements, environmental considerations and long-term value.
The Price Tag Raises Important Questions
At Tk 83,901 crore, the proposal represents a substantial public infrastructure commitment.
Large railway projects can create long-term economic benefits, but their value depends on whether those benefits justify the costs. For this project, that assessment would require detailed information about expected passenger numbers, freight demand, construction expenses, maintenance costs and projected revenue.
The government would also need to establish how the project would be financed and whether its cost estimate would change as planning advances.
Land acquisition is another important factor. Construction is expected to take four years after land acquisition is completed, meaning the overall timeline would also depend on how quickly the preparatory work can be finished.
A preliminary estimate should not be treated as a final project budget. Costs can change as detailed engineering, procurement, financing and implementation plans are developed.
For taxpayers, transparency over these decisions will be essential to assessing whether the investment delivers value.
What It Could Mean for Bangladesh's Economy
Dhaka and Chattogram are central to Bangladesh's economic activity. Dhaka is the country's principal administrative and commercial centre, while Chattogram is home to its principal seaport and an important industrial and trading region.
A shorter railway connection could improve movement between the two regions if the promised reductions in distance and travel time are achieved.
For passengers, faster journeys could make rail travel more attractive. Businesses could also benefit from more efficient connections between commercial centres, industrial areas and transport infrastructure.
Railways can provide an alternative to road transport, although the wider economic benefit would depend on service frequency, reliability, ticket prices and connections with other modes of transport.
The proposed line could also create opportunities to expand electric railway operations in the future. However, the inclusion of provisions for electric trains does not mean that electrification will automatically be introduced when the line opens.
The project would need to be integrated with a wider railway development strategy to realise those potential benefits.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is whether the government approves the proposed elevated alignment and moves the project towards detailed planning and implementation.
The preliminary proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Railways, and the government must determine the preferred engineering design, financing arrangements and land acquisition requirements.
Further decisions will determine whether the project proceeds as a fully elevated railway or adopts a combination of elevated structures and embankments.
Until those decisions are made, the proposed cost, construction period and travel-time savings should be understood as preliminary figures rather than guaranteed outcomes.
For Bangladesh, the proposal presents a significant opportunity to improve railway connectivity between Dhaka and Chattogram. Its eventual success will depend not simply on building a shorter route, but on delivering a reliable railway at a cost the country can justify.
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