Dwindling rail sector performance worrisome

Experts have underscored the need for utilising the donor fund accordingly with a view to improving Bangladesh Railway (BR). Grant, donation and loan from international agencies should be used judiciously for the developments of the railway sector to ensure quality service as well as to boost country’s economy, they said.
Various development partners like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank repeatedly assist Bangladesh to develop its railway system to improve regional connectivity.
“The assistance was not being utilised properly which must be addressed immediately,” said an insider.
“With the end of colonialism, railway was, of course, considered to be the cheapest mode of transportation in the country as elsewhere in the world.
According to a Daily Industry report, Bangladesh Railway (BR) incurred loss amounting at Tk 80.25 billion during last 9 fiscal years, said a recent report of the state run orginasation.
Over the year’s lack of proper attention, poor policies, increasing expenditures, misappropriation of funds, pilferage, nepotism, natural disaster and inadequate technology and mismanagement were major reasons for making loss of the service-oriented organisation. However, experts opined such losses would hamper on its sustainability.
Moreover, the number of accidents, losses, subsidies and expenditure of Bangladesh Railways (BR) increased significantly during the last ten years despite an improvement in revenues, according to concerned sources. At least 150 incidents of  throwing stones at running trains take place each year on average, causing loss worth Tk 1.45 crore to Bangladesh Railway.
According to the BR’s latest Information Book, its net operating losses was Tk 1,432 crore in fiscal 2017-18, followed by Tk 1,391crore in fiscal 2016-17, Tk 1,202 crore in fiscal 2015-16, Tk 747 crore in 2014-15, Tk 680 crore in 2013-14, Tk 633 crore in 2012-13, Tk 841 in 2011-12 crore and Tk 745 crore in 2010-11. The organisation counted a loss of Tk 584 crore in 2009-10.
The railway blames this on salary hike, shot up of oil prices and increased expenses for its different institutions when experts cite lack of professionalism, monitoring, proper planning and faulty operational system as causes.
“The picture of the railway sector in our country is virtually disorder and anarchy par excellence,” said the former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.
The sector has been subjected to utter neglect since the independence of the country he said adding that the rail network in the country has not been substantially expanded since the British left the subcontinent in 1947.
Why this important mode of transportation has been largely ignored is best known to the highest rung of the administration ladder, he hinted.
“The proverbial budget constraints are always cited as bugbear to the development of this sector. The railway is also weighed down with various other problems,” Dr Salehuddin said.
The governments and policymakers concentrated on developing road networks rather than making the optimum use of the potentials of the railway sector, said CPD Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman.
A large number of railway stations and train routes and services have been closed, he observed.
The railway land and property at many places remained abandoned and uncared for and those are being grabbed, looted or expropriated by dishonest people, he claimed.
Despite faster development in road and air transports railway still provides the best and safest transport, he observed.
But the number of coaches, engines and employees has been on the decline though the number of commuters has climbed phenomenally, he claimed. Bangladesh Railway is running without nearly half of the required staff and the shortage of skilled and experienced personnel resulted in accidents and disruptions in train schedules, Mustafiz mentioned.
The government conveniently forgets that railway can play a vital role in the development of the country’s economy by providing the cheapest transport system, said economist Mamun-ur-Rashid.
The cost of travel and carrying of goods by road is rising every year by almost geometric progression, so, the government, therefore, needs to prioritise the boosting of domestic railway to make it a modern transport system, otherwise the dream of linking with Trans Asian Railway will be something like a quixotic idea.
However, the long-drawn manpower crisis in Bangladesh Railway, the largest public transport sector, is not only hampering its services but also the government plan to split it into four zones as part of its move to bring the whole country under the railway network.
Bangladesh Railway is facing many difficulties in providing expected services to its passengers with its existing manpower of 40,275.
A number of railways stations across the country are facing closure due to manpower shortage, said officials at Bangladesh Railway, sources at Bangladesh Railway said.
They said even the government plan to split Bangladesh Railway into four zones to bring the whole country under railway network saw little progress for the same reason since the Prime Minister’s directive in this regard in 2014.
According to the Bangladesh Railway, there are 2,877 kilometers of railway network across the country and it will be expanded to 4,700 kilometers under a master plan of the government. ‘But, it’s impossible for the Bangladesh Railway to deal with the increased routes with the existing manpower,’ said an official wishing anonymity.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon said the process for splitting Bangladesh Railway into four zones is underway and effective measures will be taken soon to this end. He also stresses the need for ending manpower crisis to ensure better services to the passengers.
‘Many cases are pending with courts over recruitment in different posts of the Bangladesh Railway. Initiatives will be taken to dispose those of quickly,’ he said.
The Railways Minister also said additional manpower will be recruited for providing better services to railway passengers.
Source: http://www.dailyindustry.news

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