New railway rules frustrate passengers
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Jasim Uddin Haroon
Bangladesh Railway has started selling advance tickets for Eid festival from Monday amid frustration of passengers as 5.0 per cent quota has been reserved for the railway staff.
Furthermore, the VIP priority tickets will be provided from the public share.
Aggrieved passengers said they will suffer this year following the merger of VIP quota with the public and the special quota for the railway staff.
According to BR, 5.0 per cent ticket has been reserved for the railway staff and their wards and remaining 95 per cent for justices, ministers, MPs, other VIPs and general public.
Ashraful Islam, a Sylhet-bound passenger told the FE: "It will be a miracle if I get a ticket with all the VIPs and the railway people waiting in the line this year."
MA Zinnah, station manager of Kamalapur Railway Station told the FE: "MPs and other VIPs must give requisition earlier to ensure their advance tickets." "We cannot ignore government directives."
"It's the state's responsibility to ensure tickets for the VIPs and their family members on the occasion of Eid," he added.
He however could not justify the 5.0 per cent reserved tickets for the railway staff.
The BR will operate four special trains between September 18 and September 20.
One special train will run between Dhaka and Mymensingh, one between Dhaka and Dewanganj, one between Dhaka Cantonment and Rajshahi and the other between Joydevpur and Shantahar.
According to BR sources, at least 12,611 railway passengers will leave Dhaka each day from September 14 to September 20.
Apart from this, more than 30 per cent passengers will be allowed as standing passengers during the seven days.
Only Subarna Express between Dhaka and Chittagong will not be allowed to carry any standing passenger.
Bangladesh Railway has started selling advance tickets for Eid festival from Monday amid frustration of passengers as 5.0 per cent quota has been reserved for the railway staff.
Furthermore, the VIP priority tickets will be provided from the public share.
Aggrieved passengers said they will suffer this year following the merger of VIP quota with the public and the special quota for the railway staff.
According to BR, 5.0 per cent ticket has been reserved for the railway staff and their wards and remaining 95 per cent for justices, ministers, MPs, other VIPs and general public.
Ashraful Islam, a Sylhet-bound passenger told the FE: "It will be a miracle if I get a ticket with all the VIPs and the railway people waiting in the line this year."
MA Zinnah, station manager of Kamalapur Railway Station told the FE: "MPs and other VIPs must give requisition earlier to ensure their advance tickets." "We cannot ignore government directives."
"It's the state's responsibility to ensure tickets for the VIPs and their family members on the occasion of Eid," he added.
He however could not justify the 5.0 per cent reserved tickets for the railway staff.
The BR will operate four special trains between September 18 and September 20.
One special train will run between Dhaka and Mymensingh, one between Dhaka and Dewanganj, one between Dhaka Cantonment and Rajshahi and the other between Joydevpur and Shantahar.
According to BR sources, at least 12,611 railway passengers will leave Dhaka each day from September 14 to September 20.
Apart from this, more than 30 per cent passengers will be allowed as standing passengers during the seven days.
Only Subarna Express between Dhaka and Chittagong will not be allowed to carry any standing passenger.