DHAKA: Initiatives have been taken to increase the frequency of Maitree Express to six days a week from present two days to tackle the passenger pressure. 

However, it will be three days in a week immediately due to shortage of coaches. 

The decision will be implemented very soon, said Indian High Commission’s Railway adviser and Councilor (trade) Chandrima Roy. 

In an exclusive interview with Banglanews24.com, Chandrima Roy told that the journey by Maitree Express between Dhaka- Kolkata is excellent and has become very popular as it is free from any traffic jam or hassle.

The passengers have started purchasing advance tickets of return journey from May 16 of the current year with that object. Earlier, there was no such facility.

Chandrima Roy also said that the Maitree Express is such facilitated that there are canteens beside the wash rooms which is absent in the buses. This facility is very beneficial to the children, patients, aged and women.

At the moment, Bangladesh does not have extra train coaches which his delaying the increase of frequency. However, an additional coach will be added to cope with the pressure of the passengers.

Chandrima informed that Bangladesh has placed orders to India for 120 rail coaches. But it will take time observing the formalities of procuring the train coaches.

Chandrima Roy continued that recently India has sent 26 engines to Bangladesh. Moreover, India has provided 705 million dollars for Bangladesh railway development and this help will increase in future.

To increase people to people connectivity, the railway services will be rolled down further as there is no other cheaper communication system within the reach of the common people.

Generally no ticket is available before 20/25 days, to this, High Commission official told that for this reason the frequency is being increased. There is a demand of air conditioned coaches more than normal. Keeping this in mind the number of AC coaches will be increased.

At the introduction of Moitree in 2008 (April 14) there was not satisfactory response from the people but its demand had increased from 2011. On the inaugural day there were 65 passengers against 360 seats. Of the 65, most of them were journalists.

On the inaugural day some high profile Indian Ministers and officials including Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prashad Jadav, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyo Ranjan Das Munshi, West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner to India Liakat Ali Chowdhury were present at the Chitpur station.

She informed that during British India 11 trains used to run between India and Pakistan till Indo-Pak war in 1965 that halted the train services.

After the liberation of Bangladesh, an emergency train service was resumed between the two countries to facilitate transportation of Bangladeshi refugee and relief goods.

However, we also have taken initiatives to introduce Kolkata-Khulna, Shahabajpur-Kulaura, Shahabajpur-Radhikapur, Haldibari-Chilahati routes very soon as per demands of the passengers.

Chandrima Roy added that infrastructure of Bangladesh railway needs massive improvement to help increase the number of trains as it has remained uncared for a long time. 

BDST: 1950 HRS, JUL 07, 2014