Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Ishwardi level crossing is an extreme example of public suffering. Ishwardi residents have been suffering from traffic jam for ages but the problem is not being resolved. Railway gates are closed for 10-20 minutes during each train movement, apart from 20 times for passenger trains, for freight and oil trains. Meanwhile, traffic jams were created on both sides. People are suffering economically over time due to traffic congestion. The demand for construction of a flyover here is long-standing. Member of Parliament, Bir Muktijoddha Nuruzzaman Biswas, promised to prioritize the construction of the flyover at Railgate before the by-elections. In the National Parliament, he has communicated with various departments including presenting proposals. Despite repeated promises by public representatives to construct the flyover, the problem is not resolved.
Ishwardi Junction Station, the largest railway station in the Western Region, established during the Ritish period, is being operated as before. With the passage of time and due to the development of railways by the present government, the number of trains has now increased more than ever before. Meanwhile, a new railway line has been built next to it for the Rooppur project. The gate has to be closed for at least 20 passenger trains every day when trains cross this junction-adjacent and crowded railway gate. Railgates have to be closed sometimes during shunting work at the biggest junction railyards. The city is divided into eastern and western ends due to the construction of railway and station through the middle of Ishwardi city. As railway gates are closed for 5-6 hours in 24 hours for 10 to 20 minutes every signal for train movement, thousands of people are suffering due to traffic jam.
The railway gate of Ishwardi city is being operated on the British era lock system. Many railway gates in the country have already introduced digital lock systems, but the Mandanta era lock system remains at Ishwardi Railway Gate. The railway gate is closed through the Swiss cabin when the passenger, oil or freight train leaves from the station before or after Ishwardi. The train does not open until it crosses the rail gate. Ishwardi Railgate has been operating in this manner for hundreds of years.
Due to the closure of the railway gate, the life of school-college students-examiners, ambulances carrying patients, fire service, operation of law and order forces, vehicles of Rooppur project and EPZ employees, movement of administrative officials came to a standstill at the railway gate. Every day there is hour long traffic jam here. Responsible traffic has to be grinding.
In this regard, Upazila Engineer Enamul Kabir said that Dhaka’s team conducted a survey more than a year ago for the purpose of constructing the flyover. The proposed flyover is now with the Planning Commission for feasibility study on all aspects. He said that there would have been a lot of progress if not for the Corona situation.
Upazila Executive Officer PM Imrul Kayes said that ‘Railgate’ has been identified as the main problem of Ishwardi. I know that the MP is contacting various departments with a proposal in the National Parliament for the construction of flyovers to solve the problem. A long time ago, the law and order committee meeting of the upazila has also proposed.
