Our Correspondent :
The Ishwardi railway junction station, the largest junction of the Western Railway built during the British regime has not been modernized in hundred years. The old station is plagued with various problems. There is always an uncomfortable atmosphere in the vicinity of the four platforms with the stench of excrement. There is no minimum benefit of passenger service. The station is surrounded by drugs and pickpockets. The nearly 100-year-old station was built along the Hardinge Bridge on the Padma River, but no development has taken place in a long time.
Every day thousands of passengers travel to different destinations through this station. There is a huge Santing Yard at Ishwardi Junction with a huge area. Ishwardi Junction is used for transporting goods on railways in the country, including goods imported from India. EPZ was established in Ishwardi considering the convenience of transporting goods. The main reason for the establishment of industry here is that the imported raw materials and manufactured goods of the industry are transported to the railways at low cost. Large container yards can be built around this station. Passengers traveling through the station are constantly suffering due to lack of modernization.
A tour of the Ishwardi Johnson station reveals that four platforms at the Rooppur nuclear power plant were recently raised and expanded during the construction of the railway line. As a result of the elevation of the platform, all the office floors of the station built during the British period are now much lower. There is no tent in the extended part of platforms 3 and 4. Passengers have to get on and off the train in this part which is sunburned and wet with rain. Under the platform, excrement is scattered in different places of the railway line. Unhealthy environment is seen in the passenger lounge. The condition of air-conditioned and first class passengers’ restrooms is deplorable. Passengers leave the restroom and stand outside because of the stench of the toilet. The roundabouts of the elegant and third class passengers were loaded with hawker goods and passengers’ luggage. Although the tinsed canopy of platforms 3 and 4 has been replaced recently, there are numerous holes, large and small, when you look at the canopy (roof) of platforms 1 and 2. With a little rain, the platform floated in the water.
Passengers and locals said that the present government has taken many steps for the development of railways. Due to bureaucratic complications, the quality of service at this station is not increasing but the problem is increasing. Despite the unprecedented development of the railway during the Awami League government, there has been no visible development of the Ishwardi Junction station so far.
Valiant Muktijoddha Nuruzzaman Biswas, Member of Parliament for the area, said, “I will raise a proposal in Parliament to modernize the important Ishwardi Junction.”
Shahidul Islam, Paksey Divisional Manager (DRM) of Railways, said there were proposals to modernize Ishwardi Johnson. Efforts to bring in the budget are also continuing.
According to railway sources, before the Corona situation, an average of 40 trains now pass through Ishwardi junction station every day. These include Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka Maitri Express, intercity, mail, local and freight trains. The importance of Ishwardi as one of the main junction station of north-south and capital Dhaka trains are increasing day by day.
Abdus Salam Khan, vice chairman of the upazila, said many less important stations are now being built in a modern way. There is also a lot of railway land here for modernization. However, despite the need and demand for modernization of this very important station built during the British period, no initiative is being taken.
Station Superintendent Mahibul Islam said that the environment of the station platform is much better now than before. However, the environment is being ruined as many passengers leave excrement on the train despite the ban on standing on the train platform. That is why suffering.
