The people living in Gazipur, Narsingdi, Manikganj, Tangail and periphery of Dhaka use Tejgaon and Banani Railstations for going different places for job or business purposes. According to local people near the two rail stations, huge number of people used to do train-journey through these two rail stations. However, the importance of the two stations was decreasing day by day. The number of commuters shrunk due to lack of sufficient train and schedule-mismanagement and the necessity of it was replenished gradually. On the other hand, the interest for taking roadway is increasing among the commuters despite the traffic-jams on the road transport.

About the reasons of this change, the experts said the government has been implementing mega projects with the assistance of local and foreign consultants. Already Metrorail, elevated expressway and BRT have been implemented and Tk thousands of crore was spent over these projects. However, not much attention was given to improve transportation system between Dhaka and its surrounding cities.

Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) executive director professor Dr Adil Mohammad Khan told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “According to RSTP, it was suggested to improve transportation system of Dhaka with its adjacent districts. It was feasible to introduce commuter train with an interval of 30 minutes to improve rail transportation as it takes comparatively reasonable costs as well as facilitates a good number of people. If the government implemented RSTP, then the transportation system would be far better.”

The scenario of Banani Rail Station

It seems the Banani Rail Station is confined just to its name as there’s no minimum facility for the train-passengers. Only one train touches the station, but the passengers can’t get on it as there’s no platform. Even, there’s no signal-system in the station.

Passenger Rafiq Ahmed travels from Kamlapur to Jaidevpur via commuter train almost every day. He said, “For the ease of returning home, I came to Banani Station; however, after coming here, I knew train doesn’t stop at this station.”

Another passenger Abdul Ahad said, “If the inter-city trains stopped at Banani Rail Station, then the residents of Gulshan, Banani, Mahakhali and adjacent areas will get benefitted. In addition, if the entire local trains stop at this station, then commuters bound from Uttara to Jaidevpur could come to the capital easily.

An employee of Banani Rail Station, on the condition of remaining anonymous, said, “Only the train ‘Turag’ stops at the station; however the number of bogies of the train is very small and becomes full of its capacity when it reaches Kamlapur Rail Station. So, some of the passengers at Banani stations fail to get on the train timely.

The scenario of Tejgaon Rail Station

As the construction work of a flyover is going on over the Tejgaon Rail Station, it’s visible to many people from outside. Some floated people are seen staying in front of its main gate. There’s no waiting room or place to seat. The other problems of the station include manpower crisis, lack of toilet, the narrow road to go to the station, and lack of sufficient transport to come here. Some local trains stop at the station, but no inter-city train stops.

According to the passengers of this station, many people want to use this rail-route, but due to the lack of sufficient facility, they don’t want to come here.

In this regard, Tejgaon Rail Station manager Shafiqul Islam said, “There were some banana storages and chicken-selling outlets adjacent to the station. However, because of the introduction of elevated expressway construction work in the area, the shops and storages were relocated. So, the number of people travelling for business purposes decreased. But, we hope the number of passengers will be increased after the renovation works to be started upon the completion of construction works of elevated expressway.”

@The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 8, 2022 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque