Will Mymensingh-Mohonganj train route be closed ?

A portion of the Mymensingh-Mohonganj rail track without boulders and slippers. PHOTO: STAR

This is the usual scene the Mymensingh-Mohongonj line. Railway officials said trains derailed at least 75 times at different points of the 60-kilometra track in last one year.

Stone chips are hardly seen on the track. Most of the slippers are very old and badly damaged. At many points, trains move at dead-slow speed.

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Many in the area this correspondent talked asked whether the route will be closed as the railway Department is indifferent to its present condition.

Sources said 70 per cent slippers on the whole track are fully damaged. At many points slippers are not visible. There is no stone ship on about 40 kilometres of the track from Gouripur station to Mohongonj station.

When a train runs, the track shakes at some points and passengers inside wait with timid hearts, many of them this correspondent talked to said.

The number of passenger trains shuttling the route has been reduced to three from six in the last one year. Compartments have also been reduced because of the risky journey. On an average, a train runs with three to four compartments.

It is needless to mention the condition of compartments. Most of those are without light, proper sitting arrangement and toilet facilities. Thinking of a journey having a seat is a luxury because most of the seats are broken and dilapidated.

The condition of most of the stations in the route is no better. Most of them are in deplorable condition for long. Those are dens of local criminals and resting places for vagabonds. Even First Class waiting rooms have virtually no sitting arrangement for passengers.

When contacted, Enamul Haque Senior Sub-Assistant Engineer at Shamgonj however said the Railway Department has no plan to close the route. There is a plan to renovate it, he said.

Station Master of Netrakona rail station said that the railway department incurred a huge loss in the route in last five years. Passengers prefer to move without ticket but there is no way to stop this.