Bangladesh Railway (BR) is yet to get back its past glory by increasing passenger and good transportation services despite the sector's bulging budget which rose, on an average, by 100 per cent during the last six years.
According to official data, the state-owned rail operator received over Tk 106 billion since 2010 which is 70 per cent of the budget allocated for the sector during the last 15 years.
But sources said neither the number of trains nor routes and operating time of services improved during the period due to failure of the BR to turn its single track rail lines into double-track ones. It has yet to introduce new lines.
The BR received a total of Tk 150.89 billion during the last 15 years since fiscal year 2000-2001. This sector's budget, however, saw ups and downs by 10 to 20 per cent till 2009-10.
During 19 years from the FY 1996-97, the BR received a total of Tk 164.99 billion.
The data showed that the BR started receiving increased budget from the FY 2009-2010 with an allocation of Tk 6.09 billion. It received highest Tk 34.32 billion during the last fiscal year 2014-15.
The BR started receiving increased budget after the government declared the pro-people railway service a thrust sector with a target to improve passenger and good transportation services.
However, sources said, less than 20 per cent of total commuters use train against the global standard of 80 per cent as capacity could not be improved during the last six years.
Though the BR claimed introducing new train services on some routes including inter-city DEMU services, sources said, the authority is yet to revive its closed services and failed to turn its main busy corridor Dhaka-Chittagong rail track into double lines in the last six years. The Akhaura-Bhairab line, which is a part of the 321 kilometre rail track still remained a single one.
Officials said they have almost completed double line from Dhaka to Chinkhi Asthana of the corridor.
They, however, said time for goods transportation still remains high taking 15 hours to move between Dhaka and Chittagong. The authority could not raise the speed of trains from average 15 kilometres per hour to its capacity of 70 to 80 km ph.
Sources said delay in completing double line work, removal of non-interlock station system for train movement without stoppage and lack of manpower for operating trains were reasons behind the poor rail services.
The Tongi-Bhairab Bazar double line work has been continuing for the last seven years while the Dhaka- Chittagong rail corridor has several non-interlock stations.
BR Director General Mohammad Amzad Hossain said as the government declared the railway sector a thrust sector, the BR has been trying to improve and develop its different services through a 20-year mega plan.
He told the FE, plans to introduce new lines from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar, from Dhaka to Mongla port through the Padma bridge and electric trains are also under way.
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