Ctg-Dohazari rail line limps along

The rail tracks at Chittagong-Dohazari railway section are lying in dilapidated condition at Dohazari upazila with grass and mud replacing the gravels. PHOTO: Zobaer Hossain Sikder

Besides, the tracks have become risky for journey due to continued pilferage of slipper and the stations also do not attract any passenger to step in due to their poor and dirty interior.

The Chittagong-Dohazari branch line is one of the examples how once a feasible and profitable organisation turns into a losing concern within few years, thanks to the indifference to the authorities concerned.

Six pairs of train used to ply everyday between Chittagong and Dohazari even two decades ago while number of passengers was no less than 20,000. All the 12 stations on the 45-kilimetre route have always been found full of life with huge passengers, including government and non-government employees, students and businessmen.

No matter whether it was day or night, the stations Jhautala, Sholoshahar, Jan Ali Hat, Gomdandi, Bengura, Khan Mohan, Dhalghat, Patiya, Kharna, Kanchannagar, Hashimpur and Dohazari were seen crowded amid hustle and bustle.

People of vast southern Chittagong were greatly benefited with the introduction of this route by the then Assam Bengal Railway authorities in early fifties. Passengers of Boalkhali, Patiya, Dohazari, Chandanaish and Satkania upazilas as well as those from Bandarban hill district were largely dependent on this route when the other modes of transports were not available. The businessmen also had an advantage with the train services as they used the route to transport their goods to the city daily.

Now all these scenarios are a matter of history.

The degradation began in early eighties when the authorities of eastern zone here had closed down five of the six train services on the route showing loss, instead of taking proper initiatives to make the route sustainable and viable.

The people of southern Chittagong said continued ignorance, indifference and lack of vision by the authorities made the route miserable.

"The only train that plies on the route only at night is of no benefit for passengers of southern Chittagong. Vagabonds, smugglers, anti-social elements and members of the red-light-zone always found in full control of the train now a days," said Abdul Mannan, a businessman, and Mohammad Jahangir, a student, from Patiya upazila.

Travelling without ticket had long been a common practice that ruined the route, sources said.

"Many passengers had also gotten into a habit of taking this undue advantage by managing the railway staffs," they said.

They, however, said if proper initiatives are taken this route will again be a profit-making one and people of southern Chittagong be benefited immensely.

They said if the branch line can be extended up to Cox's Bazar it will attract tourists in great numbers and thereby contribute to expanding tourism in this part of the country.