15 rail stations shut down due to lack of manpower

Railway authorities shut down 15 railway stations out of 31 under Santahar-Lalmonirhat section of western railway due to shortage of manpower during the last two years. Revenue earning has fallen drastically because of the shut down.

The authorities have not yet taken any initiative to recruit manpower, although locals have been agitating for reopening of the closed stations and four trains in this section.

When this correspondent visited Mohimaganj Railway Station in Gaibandha district, he found that the station was closed for the last one year. Locals said the station used to be jam-packed with passengers and goods as the Rangpur Sugar Mills are situated adjacent to the station, but now it looks like it has been abandoned.

Locals said arrival and departure of trains depend on the will of the loco-master, as there is no station master, no employee for hoisting signals, and only a single track is open.

Railway authorities closed down five single track stations -- Hasanganj, Kuptola, Salmara, Syed Ahmed College and Panchpir Mazar -- for want of adequate manpower at different times in 2014.

The authorities shutdown eleven more stations -- Mohendranagar, Anandanagar, Chowdhurani, Naldanga, Trimohoni, Badiakhali, Mohimaganj, Valurpara, Kahalu, Altafnagar and Nasratpur -- for the same reason in 2015.

Three months ago, the authorities reopened Trimohoni station after hiring a station master on contract basis. In many stations, retired station masters were hired on contract basis.

Contacted, Mostafizur Rahman, divisional traffic superintendent (DTS) of Lalmonirhat railway division, said, "Recruitment of manpower was suspended frequently due to filing of cases by temporary employees who want to have their jobs regularised. That problem has been solved and recruitment will start soon."