Special mango train starts operation today

RAJSHAHI, June 09: The Bangladesh Railway is set to launch a special mango train from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka for the fifth time today (Monday) in order to transport mangoes at a low cost.
Despite incurring a loss of Tk20 million (Tk2 crore) in the last four seasons, the train service will be launched again and this is first time that the train will run through the Padma Bridge. The train will depart from Rahanpur in Chapainawabganj at 4:00 pm and will reach Dhaka at 2:30 am.
According to the Western Railway authorities, 28.83 tonnes of mangoes can be transported in this special train through six luggage vans.
The train will stop at 15 stations, starting from Rahanpur and including Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Abdulpur, Ishurdi, Poradaha, Rajbari, Faridpur, and Bhanga.
The fare per kilogram of mangoes from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka is Tk1.47, from Rajshahi it is Tk1.43, from Rajbari Tk1.7, from Faridpur Tk1.1, and from Bhanga it will be Tk0.98.
In the mango seasons from 2020 to 2023, a total of 39,95,798 kgs of mangoes were transported by the special train.
The train collected fare amounting to Tk46,29,140 during this time but spent Tk92,91,000 as fuel cost.
Traders are bringing mangoes safely in short time and at low cost, but the railway authorities are suffering losses.
According to the Western Railway authorities, 3,995 tonnes of mangoes were transported by the special train in the four years from 2020 to 2023.
Of the total, 11,99,059 kgs of mangoes were carried by the train in 47 days in 2020 when the income was Tk13,37,536 and the expenditure was Tk56,40,000.
In 2021, 22,99,920 kgs of mangoes were transported by the train in 49 days. Then the income was Tk26,30,928 and expenditure was Tk58,80,000.
In 2022, the train transported mangoes only for seven days. At this time, transportation of 1,78,778 kgs of mangoes earned Tk2,12,174 against an expenditure of Tk12,00040.
Last year (2023), the special train transported mangoes for 18 days. This time, the income was Tk4,48,502 by carrying 12,7,000 kgs of mangoes and spending Tk19, 62,000.
From the service, the total revenue of the railways was Tk46,29,140 in the four years but the fuel cost of the train was Tk92,91,000; as a result, the train made a loss of Tk46,61,860 in the years.
Despite the losses, the special train is being put into operation again.
The special train failed to gain popularity even though mangoes could be transported at a very low cost.
Shafiqul Islam, owner of Bagha upazila's mango farming and mango exporting company, Sadia Enterprises, said that there is no opportunity to directly transport mangoes from Rajshahi to Sylhet and Chittagong by the special train. Because of this, it is more convenient to send mangoes by courier than by train.
Masudur Rahman Rinku, president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said transporting mangoes by special train is undoubtedly a good initiative. But traders do not get much benefit from it. Because it does not provide door to door service. If this facility can be provided, businessmen will also be interested and the special train service will be profitable.
Asim Kumar Talukder, general manager of Western Railway, said despite loss of the railways, the train service is being started for the convenience of mango growers and traders.
Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed said if the quantity of mango transport by train is increased by encouraging the local mango farmers, the amount of loss will reduce.

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