Where struggle for a seat now order of the day
Hundreds of train passengers on a Kurigram route suffer for want of coaches
Passengers jostle to get into a packed train at Kurigram Railway Station as each of the two trains runs daily on Ramna-Parbatipur route via Kurigram with two or three compartments.Photo: STAR
Train passengers on Ramna-Parbatipur route in the district are badly suffering due to shortage of coaches. “Each of two trains on the route runs with two or three coaches, each having 62 seats officially. Two compartments in one coach of these are used by train guards and postal department. And so, each train virtually has one or two coaches for passengers. As it is too insufficient for several hundred passengers per trip, many people travel amid risk on the train roof,” said Shafiq Rahman, a railway staff. Some people are earning money by arranging ladders for roof passengers, said Nur Islam, a local. Two trains running twice daily on the route from April 1 this year cross the main stations including Ramna (Chilmari), Ulipur, Kurigram, Rajarhat, Teesta junction, Kaunia junction, Rangpur, Badarganj, Parbatipur (Dinajpur), said sources at Kurigram railway station and locals. “At least four hundred passengers daily come to Kurigram railway station for going to Rangpur and Dinajpur. But many of them fail to get seat,” said Majibur Rahman, a commuter. During a recent visit to Kurigram station, this correspondent saw a few hundred passengers waiting at the platform for Ramna-Parbatipur train. When the train (No 421) came, passengers struggled to enter the compartments while others were trying to get on the roof. “Sometimes unwanted incidents take place between railway staffs and passengers. A few days ago, the station authorities called police from Kurigram Sadar to control the situation,” said Nuruzzaman Sarker, a resident of the area. "Several times we requested the divisional railway manager of Lalmonirhat railway division to add more compartments on the route but to no effect," he added. Stationmaster of Kurigram Railway Station Md Kabil Uddin said that the authorities sanctioned four coaches and two wagons for each train on the route. "But only two or three coaches are set with each of the trains. It is too insufficient for passengers from nine upazilas of the district. Sometime we have to face agitation from passengers. We have already urged the authorities to arrange more coaches on the route”, he said. “We could add coaches to Ramna-Parbatipur route if the higher authorities arrange it,” Md Mostafizar Rahman, divisional traffic superintendent of Lalmonirhat railway division, told this correspondent over cellphone.
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