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The Bangladesh Railway (BR) has set targets to increase fleets soon in both intercity and commuter services on Dhaka-Cox's Bazar, Dhaka-Narsingdi and Bhanga-Dhaka routes amid the challenge of a locomotive shortage.
Commercial train services on Dhaka-Burimari route will start soon after the inauguration on March 12 and on Khulna-Mongla corridor in April establishing a direct rail link between Dhaka and Mongla port.
While disclosing the information at a workshop on rail operation and development at Rail Bhaban in the capital on Saturday, BR Director General Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan said three sets of intercity trains and commuter trains will be introduced on Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route by June next.
He also disclosed that by June a direct rail communication between Jashore and Khulna will be established through the Padma Bridge reducing the Dhaka-Khulna distance by 212km and time for four hours.
After the completion of the Jamuna railway bridge by December before schedule, both passenger and freight capacities of the BR on Ishwardi-Joydevpur section will increase significantly with a reduction in travel time.
The Ministry of Railway, the Bangladesh Railway and the Reporters for Rail and Road (RRR) organised the workshop.
Railway Minister Mohammad Zillul Hakim attended the programme as the chief guest and Rail Secretary Muhammad Humayun Kabir as the special guest.
RRR President Anwar Hossain and General Secretary Tawhidul Islam Ahmed also spoke on the occasion. Senior officials, including Additional Director General (operation) Sardar Sahadat Ali and Chief Planning Officer Salimullah Bahar, were present.
Sharing more on the BR's function and development activities since inception to journalists, Mr Ahsan also said the BR's various challenges exist despite huge yearly investment since 2009 have been tried to overcome through various short-, mid- and long-term projects.
These focus on gauge unification, track expansion, two three train services on regional corridor services, purchasing coaches and locomotives among others.
While answering to a query on the increase of only 10 per cent rail network since 1947 with over a trillion of taka investment since 2009, he said the BR lost different tracks and services after 1947 and due to the Liberation war as well as giving less priority till the 95s which have been tried to recovered and resumed along with developing new track and unification of gauge.
The BR DG also said the BR has now a total of 3,553km rail tracks which have been tried to keep operable through overhauling old locomotives, coaches and wagons.
"Although the BR has now coaches adequate for the routes, its lack of locomotives has been managed through overhauling the engine after 10 years of interval," he said, adding that even burnt locomotives are now under repair.
Highlighting on taking control of railway's land to reduce the loss burden of the state owned train operator, Zillul Hakim said ownership of railway land would be used for increasing the rail's earning.
He also assured that the upcoming Eid journey of passengers and ticket sales would be better this year.
"There would not be any black marketing of rail tickets," the railway minister told journalists.
Secretary Dr Humayun Kabir highlighted the BR's challenges in ensuing coordination among its multi disciplinary departments adding that his ministry has been trying to increase the efficiency level of the railway operation through reducing level of irregularities.
He also said that planning level limitations have been tried to overcome for regaining passengers' confidence but claimed that people's confidence on railway service continued as it is still safe.