Bangladesh to receive 18 'Made in India' broad-gauge coaches via Darshana
Synopsis
India's Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala has dispatched 18 broad-gauge passenger coaches to Bangladesh — the second rake under a 200-coach, Tk 1,704.66 crore procurement deal. Arriving via Darshana on 17 October, the delivery follows a resumption of Indian coach exports after nearly a decade and signals deepening cross-border rail connectivity through the Padma Rail Bridge corridor.
Key Takeaways
Bangladesh is set to receive 18 broad-gauge railway coaches from India on 17 October 2025 via Darshana International Railway Station , Chuadanga district .
The coaches — manufactured at Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala — include 3 AC sleeper coaches , 3 AC chair cars , 11 non-AC chair cars , and 1 power car .
Supplied under a RITES–Bangladesh Railway agreement, this is the second rake under a plan to procure 200 modern broad-gauge coaches .
The project's estimated cost is Tk 1,704.66 crore , with about Tk 1,331 crore financed by a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan.
India resumed coach exports to Bangladesh in August 2025 after nearly a decade, with the first batch of 19 coaches also dispatched through Darshana.
After customs clearance, the coaches will head to Saidpur Railway Workshop for inspections before deployment on routes through the Padma Rail Bridge .
Bangladesh is set to receive a fresh consignment of 18 modern broad-gauge railway coaches manufactured in India on Friday, 17 October 2025, with the coaches scheduled to enter through the Darshana International Railway Station in Chuadanga district, according to local media reports. The delivery marks a significant step in India-Bangladesh rail cooperation and comes just weeks after New Delhi resumed coach exports to Dhaka following nearly a decade-long pause.
What the Consignment Includes
The 18-coach consignment consists of three air-conditioned sleeper coaches, three air-conditioned chair cars, 11 non-air-conditioned chair cars, and one power car. The coaches were manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, Punjab, and departed for Bangladesh on 12 October, according to Mamunur Rashid, station manager of Darshana International Railway Station, as reported by Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune.
The RITES-Bangladesh Railway Agreement
The coaches are being supplied under a procurement agreement between Bangladesh Railway and Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), India's state-owned engineering and consultancy firm. This delivery represents part of Bangladesh Railway's larger initiative to procure 200 modern broad-gauge passenger coaches, a project launched in 2022 with an estimated cost of Bangladeshi taka Tk 1,704.66 crore. Of this, approximately Tk 1,331 crore is expected to be financed through a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
What Happens After Arrival
Upon crossing the border, the coaches will proceed to the Saidpur Railway Workshop after customs procedures are completed. There, they will undergo mandatory inspections and technical assessments before being prepared for integration into passenger train services. The new coaches are intended to enhance the efficiency and reliability of rail services in Bangladesh's southwestern region, particularly along routes operating through the Padma Rail Bridge, according to a report in Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Sun.
A Resumption After Nearly a Decade
Notably, this consignment follows a landmark resumption of Indian coach exports to Bangladesh. In August, India dispatched 19 new-generation broad-gauge passenger coaches — also through the Darshana border — marking the revival of a supply chain that had been inactive for close to ten years. That earlier batch was the first shipment under the 200-coach procurement initiative. The current delivery of 18 coaches is the second rake under the same framework, signalling momentum in cross-border rail connectivity.
RITES Flags the Export Milestone
Announcing the dispatch earlier this week in a post on social media platform X, RITES said: 'Made in India. Moving the World. The 1st rake of 18 passenger coaches for Bangladesh Railway has been dispatched from RCF Kapurthala, marking another feat in RITES' export journey. From manufacturing excellence to cross-border connectivity, we’re Shaping What Shapes Lives.' The statement underscores the strategic and commercial significance India attaches to railway exports as part of its broader 'Make in India' push into neighbouring markets.
Point of View
And now following up within weeks with a second rake, reflects a deliberate push to deepen infrastructure ties with a neighbour navigating political transition. The RITES export model — financing partnerships with EIB layered on top — is a template India could replicate across South Asia. The real test will be whether the full 200-coach order, worth over Tk 1,700 crore, is delivered on schedule and whether these coaches genuinely improve last-mile connectivity in Bangladesh's southwestern region, where infrastructure gaps remain acute.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 18-coach consignment Bangladesh is receiving from India?
Bangladesh is set to receive 18 broad-gauge passenger coaches manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, Punjab, as part of a procurement agreement between Bangladesh Railway and India's RITES. The consignment includes 3 AC sleeper coaches, 3 AC chair cars, 11 non-AC chair cars, and 1 power car, and is scheduled to enter Bangladesh via Darshana International Railway Station on 17 October.
What is the larger Bangladesh Railway coach procurement project?
Bangladesh Railway launched a project in 2022 to procure 200 modern broad-gauge passenger coaches at an estimated cost of Tk 1,704.66 crore. Approximately Tk 1,331 crore of this is expected to be financed through a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), with RITES serving as the Indian supplier.
Why did India resume railway coach exports to Bangladesh after nearly a decade?
India resumed supplying passenger coaches to Bangladesh in August 2025 as part of the 200-coach procurement initiative, ending a gap of nearly ten years. The resumption reflects renewed India-Bangladesh cooperation on railway infrastructure, with coaches designed to serve routes through the Padma Rail Bridge in the southwestern region.
What happens to the coaches after they arrive at Darshana?
After crossing the border and completing customs procedures at Darshana International Railway Station, the 18 coaches will proceed to the Saidpur Railway Workshop for mandatory technical inspections and assessments. Once cleared, they will be integrated into passenger train services, particularly on southwestern routes.
What role does RITES play in this delivery?
RITES — Rail India Technical and Economic Service — is India's state-owned engineering and consultancy firm and the designated supplier under the agreement with Bangladesh Railway. The agency dispatched the coaches from RCF Kapurthala on 12 October and announced the milestone on social media platform X, describing it as 'another feat in RITES' export journey.'
