A new hope for Dhaka-Ctg route passengers

After seven years, Bangladesh Railways is planning to launch a new intercity train on the Dhaka-Chattogram route, aiming to provide a quick and hassle-free journey to passengers on this busy route.

"The ministry gave us a demand letter for running a new non-stop train on the Dhaka-Chattogram route last month. Following this, we have already prepared a proposal with a new schedule of currently running trains. We will send it to the railways ministry for final approval soon," said Jahangir Hossain, general manager of the BR (east).

Besides, the schedule of currently running trains on this route will change as a new train is planned to run with the existing engine-coach of other trains plying this route, said an official of the BR.

According to BR officials, the last intercity train on this route -- Sonar Bangla Express -- was added in 2016.

Around 11,000-12,000 passengers travel on the route every day, said Chattogram Railway Station sources.

For them, currently, there are eight passenger trains running daily on the route. Of these, six intercity trains are Subarna Express, Mahanagar Express, Mahanagar Godhuli, Sonar Bangla Express, Chattala Express and Turna Express.

The total number of seats in these trains is 5,235.

Besides, two mail trains -- Dhaka Mail and Karnaphuli Express -- are running every day on this route.

Billah Hossain, a regular passenger on this route, told The Daily Star that travelling on this route and to get train tickets is always a hassle. "We hope the sufferings will reduce with the new train on this route," he said.

Ratan Kumar Chowdhury, manager of Chattogram Railway Station, said the ticket crisis will be solved and passengers will benefit once the new non-stop train is introduced.

According to BR, after witnessing a massive shortfall in revenue due to the pandemic and lockdown, the BR eastern zone has improved its position on this front in the 2021-22 fiscal year and has earned a total revenue of Tk 493 crore 75 lakh in 2021-22 against the Tk 318 crore 22 lakh during the previous fiscal year, thus registering a 55 percent rise.

Mohammed Nazmul Islam, chief commercial manager of BR Eastern Region, said, "Dhaka-Chattogram is a profitable route for us. The revenue of the railway will increase as a new train will be introduced on this route."

However, Bangladesh Railways continues to make huge losses from its operations allegedly due to poor services, corruption, and a lack of proper management of assets. The state-run agency posted a Tk 1,384 crore loss for the 2020-21 fiscal year, shows a railways ministry document.