Bangladesh Railway will operate three pairs of special trains and withdraw weekly off-days for five regular trains to facilitate safe and convenient travel for passengers during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations.
The decisions were taken at a preparatory meeting, chaired by Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping and Railways Minister Shaikh Robiul Alam, held at the conference room of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry on Sunday.
According to the railway authorities, Dhaka Special-3 will operate on the Chattogram-Dhaka route on October 20.
Tourist Special-1 and Tourist Special-2 will run on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar-Dhaka route on October 20, 23 and 24, while Chattogram Special-4 will operate on the Dhaka-Chattogram route on October 24.
To accommodate the additional passenger rush, the weekly off-days of five regular trains will also be withdrawn on specific dates.
The off-days of Cox’s Bazar Express on October 19 and 20 have been withdrawn. The off-days of Jahanabad Express and Ruposhi Bangla Express will be cancelled on October 19, Padma Express on October 20 and Madhumati Express on October 24.
Bangladesh Railway has also planned to add 23 metre-gauge coaches to services in the eastern region and six broad-gauge coaches in the western region to meet the increased demand.
Necessary locomotives will be provided according to operational requirements.
To ensure punctuality and prevent schedule disruptions, officials and inspectors will closely monitor train operations at major junction stations and signal cabins.
Railway authorities have also arranged track patrols to ensure the safety of railway tracks and bridges. Signalling systems, coaches and locomotives will undergo intensive maintenance, while relief trains will remain ready around the clock to respond quickly to accidents and emergencies.
Security has been strengthened at major railway stations, including Dhaka, Dhaka Airport, Joydebpur, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Khulna, with support from the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB).
Magisterial duties will be ensured at Kamalapur Railway Station and Dhaka Airport Railway Station on October 19 and 20.
Surveillance by the RNB, GRP and railway employees has also been intensified to prevent sabotage and other disruptive activities on trains, at stations and along railway tracks.
State Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Railways Habibur Rashid, State Minister for Bridges Division and Shipping Rajib Ahsan, senior officials of the relevant ministries, commissioners of Dhaka and Gazipur metropolitan police, and representatives of transport owners’ and workers’ organisations attended the meeting, reports UNB.