Bangladesh had last year requested India for the supply of locomotives

India will on Monday handover 10 broad-gauge diesel locomotives to Bangladesh, facilitating mobility solutions in the neighbouring country for both inter-country and intra-country movement.

The handover ceremony to be attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal and their Bangladeshi counterparts, will be effected through video-conferencing.

As per a statement from the Railway Ministry, the physical location of the handover will be Gede station of the Eastern Railway in West Bengal’s Nadia district and the receiving station in the Bangladesh side will be Darshana.

In April, 2019, Bangladesh had sent a proposal for these locomotives with 3300 HP. They have a residual life of 28 years or more and are designed for a speed of 120 kmph. They are suitable for hauling freight as well as passenger trains and possess microprocessor-based control system.

As per the statement from the Ministry, these locomotive will help in “movement within Bangladesh as well as inter country movement.”

“The Railways has modified the locos to suit the maximum height restrictions in Bangladesh Railway,” it said. “We are keen to partner with Bangladesh Railway for the supply and maintenance of all types of rolling stock”

These locos would provide improved train operations within the Bangladesh Railway and also for interchange with the Indian Railways, and strengthen the partnership between both the transporters, according to the statement.