Shackled in multiple problems, including shortage of manpower, railway engines, and compartments, the Pakshey divisional railway has assumed a vulnerable structure failing to deliver due services to passengers.
An acute shortage of engines has made the situation worse leading to severe sufferings to passengers.
The railway lines and stations are closing down one after another in the division as a result of the acute manpower crisis leaving the department vulnerable. Despite repeated pleas, little initiative has been taken so far to address the crisis, allege sources in the
As a consequence of the anomalies, railway lines connecting Kalukhali and Bhatiyapara and Rajbari and Faridpur under the Rajbari district were closed down till date.
However, the Kalukhali-Bhatiyapara line has recently reopened after eight years.
Train movement on Rajbari-Faridpur route, Khankhanapur, Bashantopur, Amirabad , Sheebrampur, Ombikapur, Faridpur ,Faridpur college Bhakhunda, Talma , Pukuriya, Surju Nagar Ramdiya , Arkhandi Naliya Zamalpur MadhuKhali, Ghorakhali, Shatoir Bashpur Kasiahani , and Bhatiya Para are suspended.
Because of the closing down of Rajbari –Daulatdia station much inconvenience has been caused to the passengers.
A total of 156 out of 450 railway stations in the country have already been closed down, as a result, the trains cannot depart on time causing much inconvenience to the passengers, according to sources in the Railway information department.
A total of 900 posts of different categories including station master, guard, driver, gate men and operational staff have been lying vacant for a long time, said the sources.
Five more stations via kalukhali , Belgachi , Surjanagor, Rajbari, and Panchuriya were closed for the deterioration of the route, department sources said.
Additional Director General (operations) of Bangladesh Railway Mohammad Shajahan told this correspondent: “We are trying to solve the man power crisis. As per our official decision we have called upon a retired station master to rejoin for the sake of the country with some payment but they are not agreeing to our proposal. As a result, we cannot manage a skilled station master.”
Passengers of this zone said they were losing interest in traveling by trains.
According to sources, everyday six pairs of trains depart from the Rajbari railway station. One pair commutes from Goalondo Ghat Railway station to Poradaho railway station, the other pair runs from Goalondo Ghat to Rajshahi, one pair from Goalondo ghat to Parbotipur junction. Two pairs of shuttle trains run up-down between Rajbari to Goalondo Daulatdia Ghat. One pair of inter-city Modhumati Express train commutes from Rajbari to Rajshahi.
Sources from Pakshey railway divisional office said: “The station masters do not have adequate training as a result accidents have taken place near Narsingdi area recently.”
“The load capacity of the railway tracks are also decreasing. Nowadays trains are taking longer than usual to reach the destination,” they said.
Because of the deteriorating condition of the railway tracks, train accidents have become a regular phenomenon in the west Zone.
Moreover, the department is incurring loss as nowadays people are preferring journey by bus than train to save time, said the sources.
“A Tk2.67bn development project has been undertaken to construct new lines from Kalukhali to Tungi para and Manchuria to Faridpur via Bhanga to Padma setu,” Rafiqul Alam, chief engineer of the project said.
