Editorial
Railway reinvention plans encouraging
But also tackle violence on the tracks
MANY have been the travails Bangladesh Railway has gone through over the decades. Economic losses, mismanagement, broken schedules, et cetera, have been regularly cited to explain the predicament of a mode of transport that has, nevertheless, remained popular with citizens as a means of cheap movement. Over the years, much debate has gone on about ways of bringing about a qualitative change in the working of the railway, given that it has also been facing stiff competition from a rise in road transport across the country.
Now comes news that should cheer everyone. Briefly, Bangladesh Railway's measures toward reinventing itself, as it were, through certain concrete measures are a step in the right direction. Among the measures are those aimed at a significant reduction in travel time, something that means an introduction of new tracks. There is too the plan for an introduction of fast diesel electric trains, which is important since it will allow a larger number of people to commute between home and the workplace. Additionally, the decision about a reopening of 27 closed railway stations augurs well in that it can only enhance connectivity among various regions in the country.
What must now be done, though, is for a practical implementation of the BR plans in a smooth, swift way in order for citizens to begin deriving advantages from them in a big way. We say this because there have been far too many development plans in the country in the past that eventually were lost in the wilderness. Besides, with communication yet a major problem despite the remarkable improvements made over the past couple of decades and more, it is important that BR services be expanded as much as possible throughout the country. The sooner we bring BR to a comparative level with our neighbours the better for us. Railway is in dire need of modernisation in terms of operations and services.
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