Train journey in western zone turns boring, risky
11 trips cancelled daily for shortage of drivers, field staff, 64 out of 161 stations closed
Ignoring the risk from a running train that may arrive at any time, children play cricket on railway tracks at now abandoned Darwani Railway Station in Nilphamari district. Manpower crisis forced the authorities to virtually close the once busy station a few years ago.Photo: STAR
Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway (BR) sees increasingly poor service and risky journey due to acute shortage of engine crew and field operational staffs. In last three years 59 people died in 807 train accidents in Western Zone. Forty-six of the 161 stations in Pakshi and Lalmonirhat divisions under this zone have been closed while 27 others are operating only partially although there is a network of 1489 km railway track -- 936 km broad gauge and 553 km meter gauge, said BR sources. On an average, eleven train trips are cancelled daily while punctually rate has come down to only 70 percent in Western Zone. In January this year, 324 trips were cancelled in the zone. With a large number of employees going on retirement every year, manpower shortage has rose up to 30 percent as appointment to the posts of locomotive masters (train drivers) and field operational staffs in the zone has remained suspended since 1985. Only 350 stationmasters are in service in Western Zone against 538 posts. Forty-five more will retire this year. Now 271 of the 762 posts of locomotive masters in this zone are vacant. The crisis will worsen as more 58 locomotive masters will go on retirement by June this year. As the locomotive masters often have to do overtime work to keep trains operational, they become fatigued and it increases risk of accidents. Shortage of manpower also hinders scheduled check up of engines after returning from a journey, making them vulnerable to accidents during next operations. At present 155 train guards are working against 207 posts while 21 more will retire by 2010. Now 575 people are in service against 695 posts of points' man. Fifty-two more will retire by this year. Only 64 gatemen (posted at the gates of rail crossings) are now working against 173 posts. The rail authorities, however, have engaged 72 people as gatemen on daily wage basis. Shortage of stationmasters and points men also creates problem in signalling system and causes delay in trains' reaching destination. Due to complexities arising from shortage of field operational staff and engine crews, punctually rate in Western Zone has come down to only 70 percent, said railway sources. Passengers are losing confidence on rail service and it sees declining income. "Stations are being closed down one after another while train trips have to be cancelled on regular basis due to manpower shortage. The situation would worsen in near future," said Zahurul Islam, divisional traffic superintendent of BR Western Zone at Lalmonirhat. In last year, the Western Zone had placed to the railway ministry some proposals including two-year job extension of the railway employees scheduled to retire in 2009 and 2010 and contact-basis appointment of the retired rail employees who are in sound health, said Abdul Wahab, chief operating superintendent of Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway. "The situation will improve if the proposals are granted and new manpower is recruited," he said.
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