Sale of advance tickets for launches, buses and trains will start from the first week of June to ensure smooth journey for Eid holidaymakers. The railways, BIWTA and BRTC will also provide special services during the Eid holidays. Launch owners will operate 60–70 additional trips during this time. Bus owners will begin selling advance tickets online from May 26–27. Holidaymakers can also buy advance tickets from bus counters from June 1, Farhadul Alam, executive of busbd.com, told this correspondent yesterday.
Even though launch owners are yet to confirm the date of selling advance tickets, it is likely to start from June 2–3, BIWTA joint director (port) AKM Arif Uddin, posted at the Sadarghat launch terminal, told The Independent yesterday.
“At least 80 launches operate daily from the Sadarghat launch terminal. Considering the holiday crowd, around 60–70 more launches will operate during Eid,” he said in reply to a query.
According to AKM Arif Uddin, the Sadarghat launch terminal is now freed from hawkers so that passengers can have hassle-free travel.
Bangladesh Railway authorities will begin selling advance train tickets from June 2 to ensure smooth journey for the holidaymakers. On the first day, tickets will be given for June 11. Tickets for June 12, 13, 14, and 15 will be distributed on June 3, 4 5 and 6 respectively, according to sources.
The railways will face more pressure this year because of the dismal transport system and huge traffic snarls on highways.
The rail authorities have planned to sell about 56,000 tickets daily for inter-city trains; they have decided to sell 22,000 tickets for mail and local trains.
Around 25,000-30,000 tickets are sold from the Kamlapur railway station every day during the normal period, sources said.
A total of 22,122 tickets have been sold for 31 inter-city trains from Kamlapur. Sixty five per cent tickets are sold from counters. A passenger can purchase a maximum of four tickets.
Bangladesh Railway director general Amjad Hossain said: “The Bangladesh Railway will carry about 270,000 passengers during the upcoming Eid holidays. Seven pairs of special trains will run during the holidays. Special trains will run five days ahead of Eid.”
Additional ticket counters will be set up to manage the situation, he added.