The Bangladesh Railway (BR) has failed to make any significant improvement in its services although the government has invested Tk 456 billion over the last 10 years for the organisation, insiders said.
The investment for BR's development during the last 10 years was much higher than that of the period from financial year (FY) 1972 to FY 2008, officials said.
BR has also failed to make any tangible progress in its two "fast-track" projects and some other important mega projects despite the aforesaid record investment during the present Awami League-lead government's period, they added.
BR's "fast-track" projects - Tk 392.58-billion Padma Bridge railway connection and Tk 180.34-billion Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar and Ramu-Gundhum railway line construction - are still in the preliminary stage of implementation.
According to the government data, the Ministry of Railways (MoR) has received Tk 455.84 billion development funds during the last 10 years, ranging from FY 2008-09 to FY 2017-18.
The present AL-lead government, underlying the railway as one of the highest prioritised sector, has been gradually raising fund allocation for its development.
In the current FY, the government has allocated Tk 111.54 billion funds in the development budget for MoR to boost its development work for providing better services to the railway users.
The allocation in FY 2019 is 483 per cent higher than that of Tk 19.12 billion in FY 2009.
Development analysts and transport experts said although the government has invested the record amount of funds for BR during the last 10 years, its services are still much below expectation.
A senior BR official said it will take some two to four years more to complete the "fast-track" projects and other mega projects.
These projects include construction of Jamuna Railway Bridge, Tk 38.01-billion Khulna-Mongla railway line construction, Tk 11.07-billion Dhaka-Tongi 3rd and 4th dual-gauge and Tongi-Joydebpur dual-gauge line construction, and Tk 65.04-billion Akhaura-Lakhsham railway line construction.
BR took up Tk 180.34-billion Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar and Ramu-Ghundhum railway line project in 2010, whose construction work has started recently. The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2022.
Similarly, the organisation has also started work of Tk 392.58-billion Padma Bridge railway connection project recently, which is also scheduled to be completed in June 2022.
Transport expert Dr Shamsul Haque said although the government has invested billions of taka for BR over the last decade, it has failed to get proper return from the investment.
He said 10 years is enough time for developing a country's transport sector.
"BR has invested huge money for replacing the railway tracks for enhancing speed and mobility. But still the trains cannot operate beyond 60-70 km per hour speed on the existing track due to some other obstacles."
"It means the plan is not working and the money has been spent in vein," he noted.
"The level-crossings and access-controls are still vulnerable, the newly-developed tracks are not that much secure, and other modes of transport, like roads, are sometimes conflicting with railway tracks."
So, although the government has invested the record amount of funds, an integrated sustainable development for BR is still absent, he added.
A senior official told the FE that despite the allocation of substantial outlay BR is still struggling with its inadequate locomotives, passenger carriages, and manpower.
So, it is difficult to maintain train schedule properly, enhance their speed, increase number of trains, and provide better service to passengers.
He said 10 years ago the government shelved vital proposals to buy locomotives, coaches and wagons for BR as well as to rehabilitate tracks and improve signalling system.
As a result, BR has been operating with obsolete locomotives and wagons along with worn-out tracks, causing frequent derailments, he added.
BR's passenger and freight-carrying capacities have been waning, as the number of its locomotives, coaches and wagons have been declining.
The public sector entity is unable to meet the rising demand for carrying goods to and from Dhaka and Chittagong due to severe scarcity of locomotives and wagons, he further noted.
BR Director General Md. Amzad Hossain could not be reached despite making repeated phone calls.
Development analyst Dr Zaid Bakht told the FE that the government has invested a substantial amount for railway infrastructure development.
But the investment for improving BR's management and capacity building is still poor.
"Poor management, lack of adequate maintenance and manpower, pilferage and weak capacity etc are the major hurdles for improving railway services," he added.
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