<i>They now prefer trains to buses</i>
Number of train passengers has increased in Lalmonirhat due to recent improvement in service, especially on Lalmonirhat-Burimari route.Photo: STAR
People of five upazilas have opted for trains on Lalmonirhat-Burimari land port route in the last couple of months due to reasonable fare, triggering unusual drop in number of bus passengers. Earlier, the passengers and commuters of the 84-kilometre route used to travel by road due to awful condition of rail compartments and time schedule. Sources said, a few bus owners have already stopped their services on the route as most of the people prefer train to buses following the renovation of train and route. According to sources at Lalmonirhat railway office, three pairs of passenger trains are now shuttling Lalmonirhat-Burimari route in the morning, at noon and night regularly. Scores of people of Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj and Aditmari upazilas go to all 11 stations everyday to enjoy the comfortable train journey, they said. The stations are Burimari, Patgram and Bawra under Patgram upazila, Barokhata, Hatibandha and Shaheed Borhan Nagar under Hatibandha upazila, Bhotmari, Tusbhandar and Kakina under Kaliganj upazila and Namuri and Aditmari under Aditmari upazila. Iftekhar Ahmed, a train passenger of the route, said he prefers train service to bus as he needs only Tk 25 for travelling from Burimari to Lalmonirhat by train. "For the same distance one has to pay Tk 140 to the buses," he said. Shamim Al Shamim, a trader at Burimari land port, said the train service on the route plays a vital role in business sector as the traders can now easily travel to the district headquarters. Lalmonirhat station master Abdur Rahman said, better train service has become a matter of heartburn for the local bus owners and workers as they these days do not get sufficient passengers. Burimari station master Moksed Ali alleged that a gang of bus workers attacked the railway officials at the station twice in the last 20 days over the issue. “But the gang could not halt the train service due to its growing popularity and fear of the passengers”, he added. Contacted, Burimari Bus Sramik Union president Afzal Hossain refuted the allegation. Bus owner Shariful Islam said, at least 33 passenger buses used to ply the route regularly. But now only 20 buses operate there, he said adding that a few bus owners recently stopped their services after incurring loss. Divisional Railway Manager of Lalmonirhat West Zone Abdul Hye said the train service has gained popularity due to repairing of the rail line and low fare. “The authorities have already taken a decision to run an intercity train on the route very soon,” he added.
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