Government steps up rail, road and river transport for Eid travel

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has said the government is working at full capacity to ensure a safe and comfortable Eid journey for homebound passengers travelling by road, rail and waterways ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

He said Bangladesh Railway has added 124 metre-gauge coaches and 14 broad-gauge coaches to various intercity services centred on the Eid rush. In addition, the railway is operating five pairs of special trains alongside its regular services. Arrangements have also been made to transport the highest possible number of passengers in an orderly manner by road and waterways.

He made the remarks after visiting Dhaka Railway Station in Kamalapur on Friday (13 March).

The minister said the journey of homebound passengers ahead of Eid had so far remained largely comfortable. Although there had been heavy pressure on online ticket sales, passengers had been able to buy tickets fairly, he said, adding that the authorities had taken maximum preparation to ensure smooth travel by rail and other modes of transport.

Speaking about advance online train tickets, he said sales began on 3 March and continued in phases. During that time, the online platform experienced intense pressure, with around 3.7 million people trying to buy tickets. However, Bangladesh Railway was able to sell around 36,000 tickets in line with its carrying capacity.

He said passengers are given a short period to complete payment after booking a ticket, which at times caused others to wait while seats remained temporarily reserved. Even so, he said, those who intended to buy tickets were ultimately able to obtain them fairly.

The minister said 21 trains departed for their destinations on the first day of the Eid journey, with most leaving on time. Two trains left around 40 minutes late. He said those services had been running up to three hours behind schedule for several days because of an accident, but the delay had now been reduced to 40 minutes. He expressed hope that the two trains would be able to leave on schedule within the next two days.

He said he had spoken to passengers at the station and heard positive feedback. However, many passengers had expressed concern over whether the improved service standards would be maintained. In response, he said: "We want to maintain the standard of rail service passengers are now seeing at any cost. The quality of service will improve further in the future."

Sheikh Robiul Alam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the authorities to make rail communication more modern and people-friendly so that passengers can travel long distances comfortably in less time. He said the government is working towards a fundamental transformation of the railway system to achieve that goal.

Referring to the tendency of some passengers to travel on train rooftops during the final rush before Eid, he said strict measures were being taken to stop the practice. He added that while it was difficult to guarantee that no one would climb onto rooftops because of the huge passenger pressure, the authorities were making every effort to prevent it.

The minister said one of the biggest challenges during Eid travel is that between 12.5 million and 15 million people leave Dhaka within just two to three days, a phenomenon rarely seen in many cities around the world. Despite this challenge, he said, the government is making every possible effort to manage the situation.

He also said there is a plan to increase the capacity of the country's transport system by adding new coaches, buses and water vessels. At the same time, the government is working to bring greater discipline to bus operations. He added that there is currently no possibility of a fare hike in public transport in response to any increase in fuel prices.

On train scheduling, he said at least 85 to 87 metre-gauge locomotives are needed to avoid any major disruption. At present, 78 locomotives have been deployed, and the situation is expected to improve further once a few more are added within the next two days.

On security, the minister said railway police, regular police, highway police, river police and law enforcement agencies from different districts are working together to ensure smooth Eid travel. Ansar members have also been assigned duties. In addition, volunteers wearing special jackets have been deployed at roughly every 500 metres to help maintain order.

He said work on the six-lane Dhaka-Sylhet highway is ongoing, but arrangements have been made to keep at least two lanes open to traffic. While this may slow vehicle movement, he expressed hope that traffic would not come to a complete halt anywhere.

He acknowledged that some unexpected accidents or temporary disruptions might occur during the Eid journey, but said the administration is prepared to deal with such situations quickly. "We are leaving no stone unturned. Passengers are requested to show some patience and cooperation during any difficult situation," he said.

Later, the minister visited the BRTC bus depot in Motijheel. During the visit, he instructed the authorities concerned to improve cleanliness in the depot area. He also gave necessary directives to ensure the smooth operation of BRTC buses ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

State Minister for the Ministry of Railways and the Road Transport and Highways Division Habibur Rashid, MP, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Md Fahimul Islam, Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Afzal Hossain, and senior officials of the ministries and divisions concerned were also present.