The “Mango Special Train”, a low-cost mango transport from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka, has been suspended after running for only 11 days this season due to lack of response.
The train, which was launched on June 13, used to leave from 13 stations in Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi region for Dhaka.
The train last transported mangoes on Thursday and then it was declared closed for the current season.
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Asim Kumar Talukder, general manager of the Western Railway, said the Mango Special Train was stopped due to unwillingness of traders in mango transport and preparations for the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Azha.
According to the Western Railway, mangoes were transported by special trains from Chapainawabganj, Rahanpur, Nachol, Amanura Bypass, Nezampur, Kankanhat, Rajshahi, Sardah Road, Arani, Abdulpur, Azimnagar and Lokmanpur.
Of the 13 stations in the region, the highest mango transport has been from Arani.
From June 13 to June 20, a total of 1,78,778 kg of mangoes were taken to Dhaka by the train. From which the income of the railway has been Tk2,12,178.
Traders have got the opportunity to transport mangoes from Chapainawabganj at Tk1.31 per kg and from Rajshahi at Tk1.17 per kg.
Asim Kumar added that the mangoes were transported in five carriages every day.
“Although there was an opportunity to transport mangoes at low cost, the traders did not show interest as expected by the railways,” he observed.
In 2020, the first Mango Special Train was launched by the Western Railway while in 2021, it lasted for about a month and a half.
