FIRST NINE MONTHS OF FY19
Railway west zone earns Tk 395.65cr
BSS, Rajshahi
The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway earned revenue worth around Tk 395.65 crore during the first nine months of the current 2018-19 fiscal year, a sharp rise of Tk 12.77 crore than that of over the same period of the previous 2017-18 fiscal.
Of the total earning, Tk 114.05 crore was earned by selling tickets to passengers while Tk 119.02 crore from goods and other parcels transportation. Tk 382.90 crore was earned as revenue in first nine months of 2017-18 fiscal.
Shah Newaz, chief commercial manager of the west zone, said the zone, covering Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions, has been operating 159 trains, including 50 intercity and some inter-country ones,
on different routes, including the capital city of Dhaka and Kolkata of India at present.
Forty-six locals or shuttle and sixty-three commuter or mail trains are also being operated on various routes which are very popular among the passengers, he added.
He stated that the number of passengers of intercity trains on various routes has increased significantly in the last couple of years.
Considering the benefit of the passengers in general, he said 31 major stations have been brought under the modern computerized seat reservation and ticketing system. Some of those including Rajshahi have launched ticket selling and seat reservation through online system.
Shah Newaj, however, said the revenue earning could be enhanced to a greater extent if the stations which remain dysfunctional are re-launched as early as possible.
