A media report on Monday said that Bangladesh Railway took up a project worth Tk 1,799.11 crore to procure 20 metre-gauge (MG) locomotives and 150 MG carriages to expand railway services and resolve the growing crisis of rail engines and coaches. The project was supposed to be completed by June 2020, but the authorities had failed to even complete the signing of agreements with all parties within that period, let alone complete the project. The deadline of the project has already been extended twice, and now, the authorities have sought for two more years.
Currently, BR is implementing eight projects in connection with procurement and rehabilitation of engines or coaches. Deadlines of six projects have already been extended, while another one, taken to renovate 21 MG locomotives, is failing to manage contractors even after floating tenders thrice. Only one project, taken in 2020, is running according to the deadline, shows BR documents. BR has reportedly taken up these projects to improve its capacity and meet the shortage of locomotives and carriages as many of them expired their lifespan.
With rampant theft of diesel, deteriorating passenger services and corruption in the purchase of equipment and employment of manpower, it does not surprise us to read about the losses the railway incurred to the tune of thousands of crore taka every year. BR data further shows, around 5,000 acres of railway land have gone under illegal occupation, but there are stories of malpractice by the officials in each case of land grabbing. Powerful people with political backing take possession of railway land on lease, and then construct structures on them.
We want the authorities to take firm steps without fear or favour to bring the railway back on track and turn it into a profitable sector. Over the last five decades, railways have witnessed great changes all over the world. We also hope to witness super speed trains with luxurious interiors and excellent services here as the developed countries have already introduced.
