The railroads deserve better attention
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Travellers using the Bangladesh railway services are having to put up with far too frequent mishaps not only on account of poor maintenance but also due to the inefficiency and indifference of railway employees as well as members of the public. A case in point was the recent tragedy at Khilgaon level crossing which left several dead and seriously injured, reportedly due to the malfunctioning signal system. And yet motor vehicles, rickshaws and pedestrians are found to defy the cautionary barriers at such crossings, as captured by the front-page FE photo on 1 October 2010. Clearly, both the public and the railway authorities have much to amend in themselves.
Disruptions due to faulty engines and carriages, tampered lines and sleepers and other known and unknown causes, are not uncommon on the railroads of Bangladesh. And most of these turn out to be the result of poor management compounded by the utter neglect that this sector has been subjected to over the years. Indeed, investment in this environment-friendly, economically rational and safe mode of transport has in the past 40 years been minimal. As a result, the sector has suffered persistently from inadequate manpower and material, not to forget, 'politicization' and its hazards. It is therefore no surprise that Bangladesh Railways should descend into the present state of decadence and disrepair.
It is undeniable that the weak infrastructure in Bangladesh is one of the main disincentives that would-be investors face. Although governments acknowledge that this must be addressed as a priority -- and development partners have also expressed their desire to invest substantial amounts in it -- there seem to be too many snags along the way. The conditions attached to infrastructure projects like this have reportedly not been welcome to some stakeholders. As a result, the oft-declared resolve to get on with rail sector reforms seem to get repeatedly thwarted.
According to reports, some rail routes have been curtailed or discontinued altogether due to shortage of carriages, engines and manpower. Observers of Bangladesh's economy in general and the transportation sector in particular, have good reason to blame successive governments for today's problem-ridden railways. It is alleged that governments have always been tailoring national policies according to the dictates of donors who seem to prefer investment on roads and highways and related transport rather than the mass-friendly railways, despite the superior merit of the latter. The present pro-people government will hopefully let its better judgement win to revamp the sector sooner rather than later. At this point in time when the predominance of road-based transport is virtually strangling the main cities, there can be no reason why Bangladesh Railways cannot be reclaimed immediately as the most cost-effective mode of transport throughout the country.
In the late 1980s some improvement was noticeable when a number of surprisingly punctual intercity train services were introduced. Hopes were raised that old rail links would be replaced by broad gauge, new lines would be put in place and the whole system would be overhauled and modernized and expanded to serve the entire nation. But it was too good to last. Corruption is often cited as the problem but there are plenty of examples across the world of utterly corrupt entities being quite efficient and patriotic at the same time. If the political will is there criminal mismanagement can certainly be curtailed to serve the people's interests.
Disruptions due to faulty engines and carriages, tampered lines and sleepers and other known and unknown causes, are not uncommon on the railroads of Bangladesh. And most of these turn out to be the result of poor management compounded by the utter neglect that this sector has been subjected to over the years. Indeed, investment in this environment-friendly, economically rational and safe mode of transport has in the past 40 years been minimal. As a result, the sector has suffered persistently from inadequate manpower and material, not to forget, 'politicization' and its hazards. It is therefore no surprise that Bangladesh Railways should descend into the present state of decadence and disrepair.
It is undeniable that the weak infrastructure in Bangladesh is one of the main disincentives that would-be investors face. Although governments acknowledge that this must be addressed as a priority -- and development partners have also expressed their desire to invest substantial amounts in it -- there seem to be too many snags along the way. The conditions attached to infrastructure projects like this have reportedly not been welcome to some stakeholders. As a result, the oft-declared resolve to get on with rail sector reforms seem to get repeatedly thwarted.
According to reports, some rail routes have been curtailed or discontinued altogether due to shortage of carriages, engines and manpower. Observers of Bangladesh's economy in general and the transportation sector in particular, have good reason to blame successive governments for today's problem-ridden railways. It is alleged that governments have always been tailoring national policies according to the dictates of donors who seem to prefer investment on roads and highways and related transport rather than the mass-friendly railways, despite the superior merit of the latter. The present pro-people government will hopefully let its better judgement win to revamp the sector sooner rather than later. At this point in time when the predominance of road-based transport is virtually strangling the main cities, there can be no reason why Bangladesh Railways cannot be reclaimed immediately as the most cost-effective mode of transport throughout the country.
In the late 1980s some improvement was noticeable when a number of surprisingly punctual intercity train services were introduced. Hopes were raised that old rail links would be replaced by broad gauge, new lines would be put in place and the whole system would be overhauled and modernized and expanded to serve the entire nation. But it was too good to last. Corruption is often cited as the problem but there are plenty of examples across the world of utterly corrupt entities being quite efficient and patriotic at the same time. If the political will is there criminal mismanagement can certainly be curtailed to serve the people's interests.