PM proposes integrated ticketing system for all public transports

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the authorities concerned to develop an integrated communication system for rail, road and marine transports so that people can travel in one ticket.

The instruction was given at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday, reports bdnews24.com.

Planning Minister MA Mannan gave the information while briefing the reporters after the meeting.

“Such systems are in place in advanced countries,” the minister said quoting the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also gave some instructions for the development of the communication system, particularly railways.

"The Prime Minister directed officials to convert remaining rail gauges to broad gauge to modernise the rail link of the country in the near future,” said the minister.

MA Mannan said the Prime Minister also placed an emphasis on BMRE [Balancing, Modernisation, Rehabilitation, Expansion] to improve the efficiency of the railway sector.

"Through this, efficiency of the railway staff will have to be increased so that they themselves can make the small parts of the railways," he said.

Now everything of the railway sector is imported. That's why she has ordered raising necessary workforce and make infrastructure,” the minister added.

The Prime Minister also instructed the land ministry to make a national policy for the best use of the land without damaging crop land.

The ECNEC approved a total of nine projects at an estimated cost of Tk 164.33 billion.

More than Tk 136.2 billion will come from the public exchequer, over Tk 2.86 billion from own funds of the public agencies and the rest Tk 25.28 billion in 'foreign credit'.