BR’s venture with CNS continues, so does ticketing anomalies

Bangladesh Railway (BR) does not control over Computer Network Systems (CNS) Limited — the company responsible for online train ticketing. It does not follow BR guidelines while selling tickets.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) made the observation in a report submitted to Bangladesh Railway in May last. Though promised to be tough on any irregularities while receiving the report, it continues to work with CNS. As a result, travelers continue to embrace sufferings — like they did during last Eid in June.     

Asked about the allegations, Executive Director of CNS Limited Md Abdus Salam refused to comment.   

“I don’t know anything about ‘Rail Sheba’ app and the issues you are talking about,” he said.  

Nur Mohammod, a passenger who was waiting at the long queue for nearly six hours at Kamalapur Railway Station is bitterly aware of the existence of ‘Rail Sheba’ app. Failing to purchase tickets through mobile app even after a hundred attempts, he came to the train ticket sales counter.

“There is no login problem to the app after 8pm. But if you want to sign in at 6am when the e-ticket sale begins, it’s almost guaranteed that something certainly will go wrong,” Mohammod said.  

Many ticket aspirants on Wednesday — the third day of Eid ticket sales — echoed similar sentiments. One Sujan Sakib was a rare lucky person among them as he could secure two tickets through the app. 

“I tried for nearly four hours and successfully bought the tickets,” he said.   

Sakib believes the sufferings of those buying through the app and those buying from the counter are almost the same. 

Minister satisfied with service  

Like the previous Eid, Bangladesh Railway has allocated 50 percent of Eid tickets for e-ticketing. Railways Minister Nurul Islam on July 23 said CNS has improved its capacity. Their server can now handle up to 1,00,000 visitors per minute.

On July 29, the first day of the ticket sale, the minister changed his tone saying: “It’s not possible to handle it if five lakh people hit the site at a time. We are giving 10,000 tickets per day through the app — which means 4,90,000 are out of our coverage. Their voice will undoubtedly be louder.”

Stand at queues 12 hours before sale!    

Station Manager of Kamalapur Railway Station Mohammod Aminul Haque on Wednesday said people who stand at queues a day before usually get the ‘preferred and good seats’ without any problem.     

“If someone comes after 12pm, he is likely to go home empty handed as tickets are limited,” he said.  

BR will sell the Eid tickets on Thursday and Friday for 10 and 11 August respectively.