# Millions of passengers against 33 thousand tickets
# Railway takes initiatives to prevent ticketless journey
# Special trains will be run from April 3 to 9 and 13 to 19
# Sale of 25 pc seat less tickets for extra passengers
Extensive preparations have been made to ensure passenger service and safety
- Sardar Shahadat Ali, ADG, Bangladesh Railway
Bangladesh Railways has to struggle to manage safe Eid journey for the people who used to leave the capital Dhaka for various parts of the country in order to enjoy Eid with loves one and family members.
Like every Eid journey, there is a crowd of homebound people on the railway. However, against lakhs of passengers, the authorities sell seat-based tickets. 25 percent of the seatless tickets are sold for carrying additional passengers on the day of the journey. This year, special arrangements will be made for the Eid journey from April 3 to 9 and April 13 to 19.
It was known that against the 33,500 tickets of these trains, lakhs of people are hitting online every few minutes to buy tickets. The railway authorities have already taken various initiatives to prevent ticketless passengers. Due to various reasons, the railway is struggling to control the passengers during the Eid journey.
According to railway officials, it is not possible to see who has tickets or who does not have tickets at the stations and most of the trains during the Eid journey. There is no favorable situation to verify the ticket. TTEs are not able to travel on the train again due to heavy crowds. So lanes are being made with bamboo fences. So that passengers can enter the station in a row. It will be possible to verify the ticket to some extent.
According to railway police sources, about 95 percent of the railway stations are open and the stations cannot be restricted. After the departure of the train, passengers flocked to the station in front and outside without tickets. Within moments, hundreds of people had boarded the train. Despite the efforts of law enforcers, passengers on the roof of some trains cannot be controlled. It is not possible to prevent ticketing and ensure security even after hundreds of attempts. Many of the ticket passengers cannot go to the designated seats in the crowd.
It was known that the railway authorities will carry 33,500 passengers in 82 intercity trains from the capital every day during Eid. Tickets for 125 intercity trains are being sold online.
Railways Secretary Dr Humayun Kabir said that it is not possible to give tickets to the passengers as expected during Eid. However, every time additional special trains and coaches are added. This time too, 16 intercity trains and 72 coaches will be added. This is the first time that one-time pin (OTP) is being used to prevent black marketing of tickets. Additional coaches and engines are being kept in several sections to make the Eid journey hassle free.
Railway Infrastructure Department sources said that especially three days before Eid, about 5 to 6 times more passengers travel in each train than the scheduled passengers. It is difficult to maintain the balance of the train due to passengers climbing on the roof. At that time, the train had to run with extreme risk. Schedule disasters also occur. Besides, risky trains have to slow down.
Shah Alam Kiran Shishir, divisional commercial officer of Dhaka Railway, said a three-tier special barricade has been set up to prevent ticketless passengers. Travelling by train without a ticket is a punishable offence. Ordinary people should also understand this. We are hoping that the person who has the ticket will travel by train.
Railway Additional Director General Sardar Shahadat Ali said that due to limited seats, it was not possible to give the desired tickets to all. However, 25 percent of the seatless tickets will be sold only on the day of the journey. We have taken extensive preparations to ensure passenger service and safety.
ZH
