Train fare hike, again?

After a ­little over than three years, the railway ministry again has sent a proposal asking for a rise in train fare, by 7.8 percent, to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval. In fact, the ministry actually wants to increase fare on an annual basis. But if the prime minister gives the nod, fare will be increased from the month of February. As reason for this hike, losses incurred by the monolithic body have been mentioned. Bangladesh railway has been a losing concern all through much more because of mismanagement, corruption and organisational malfeasance in the sector than the cheapness of train tickets. And it cannot be said that train tickets are cheap now. In October 2012, train fare was hiked more than one hundred percent, generating dissatisfaction in the passengers.
At present, train and private bus fare is almost same. Even though railway last time doubled the fare, train service in general remains in shambles. Most trains ply with dirty environment inside and their speed is simply too slow. A direct train between Dhaka and Chittagong without any stop in between cannot run with a speed more than 55 kilometres per hour.
In other countries, train fare is usually increased when there is inflation or rise in fuel price. But nothing like that has happened in Bangladesh. Indeed, after the last rise in train fare, price of fuel has reduced greatly in the international market. Therefore, showing loss by raising the train fare cannot be justified.
If railway sincerely wants to stop its losses, it has to fix its eyes somewhere else now. Like any other public enterprise, railway is suffering from huge losses because corruption is eating away at its vitals. Wrong plan and mismanagement of railway is also largely responsible. We have seen how the procurement of costly DEMU train did not quite improve things.
The railway minister is right is saying that railway can increase its earnings by extending its activities such as setting up of commercial facilities on railway’s unused lands by constructing hotels, motels, modern hospitals, medical colleges and shopping complexes, etc. Even these programmes may prove futile, if railway authorities fail to manage projects and stop corruption.
It is expected that the PMO will understand that raising fare may prove to be yet another unpopular move by the government.

Train fare hike, again?

After a little over than three years, the railway ministry again has sent a proposal asking for a rise in train fare, by 7.8 percent, to the Prime Ministers Office for approval. In fact, the ministry actually wants to increase fare on an annual basis. But if the prime minister gives the nod, fare will be increased from the month of February. As reason for this hike, losses incurred by the monolithic body have been mentioned. Bangladesh railway has been a losing concern all through much more because of mismanagement, corruption and organisational malfeasance in the sector than the cheapness of train tickets. And it cannot be said that train tickets are cheap now. In October 2012, train fare was hiked more than one hundred percent, generating dissatisfaction in the passengers. At present, train and private bus fare is almost same. Even though railway last time doubled the fare, train service in general remains in shambles. Most trains ply with dirty environment inside and their speed is simply too slow. A direct train between Dhaka and Chittagong without any stop in between cannot run with a speed more than 55 kilometres per hour. In other countries, train fare is usually increased when there is inflation or rise in fuel price. But nothing like that has happened in Bangladesh. Indeed, after the last rise in train fare, price of fuel has reduced greatly in the international market. Therefore, showing loss by raising the train fare cannot be justified. If railway sincerely wants to stop its losses, it has to fix its eyes somewhere else now. Like any other public enterprise, railway is suffering from huge losses because corruption is eating away at its vitals. Wrong plan and mismanagement of railway is also largely responsible. We have seen how the procurement of costly DEMU train did not quite improve things. The railway minister is right is saying that railway can increase its earnings by extending its activities such as setting up of commercial facilities on railways unused lands by constructing hotels, motels, modern hospitals, medical colleges and shopping complexes, etc. Even these programmes may prove futile, if railway authorities fail to manage projects and stop corruption. It is expected that the PMO will understand that raising fare may prove to be yet another unpopular move by the government.