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After running almost one year, authorities of ‘Bandhan Express’ train service that connects Bangladesh and India, say that it has been incurring a loss of Tk 0.6 million on each trip, due to shortage of passengers.
The train has a total of 456 seats in 10 coaches but only some 100-120 passengers travel to India from Khulna on each trip, according to sources at the railways station.
The 'Bandhan Express' formally started its journey on November 16, 2017 in a bid to ease communication between the two neighbouring countries.
Fully air conditioned, the fare of cabin is set at Tk 2000, while chairs are available at Tk 1500 each including travel taxes.
According to passengers, a traveller has to spend only Tk 600 to visit Kolkata from Khulna via Benapole Check Post. As a result, the train has failed to attract passengers over high price of its tickets, they added.
The train runs two days a week and takes around four and half hours to reach Kolkata from Khulna although the distance is only 177 kilometres, reports UNB.
In last one year, a total 5,520 Bangladeshi passengers signed up for the journey to Kolkata by the train. On December 6, the train carried only 90 passengers, said Khulna Station Master Manik Chandra Sarker.
"However, the train requires some 350 litres of oil for the journey which costs around Tk 22,750," he added.
From that trip, the authorities have collected only TK 0.195 million which was supposed to be Tk 0.8 million, the station master said adding that the railways authority incurred around Tk 0.6 million deficit on that trip.