Train fares are increasing on six routes including Dhaka-Chattogram through the imposition of point charges. After almost 9 years, the railway authorities have decided to increase the fare. In this, the minimum fare has increased from 5 taka to a maximum of 226 taka per train and seat. The decision to increase the fare will be effective from December 20. This information was given in a notification sent by the Public Relations Officer (Senior Information Officer) of the Ministry of Railways, Rezaul Karim Siddiqui on Tuesday (December 9).
Meanwhile, regarding the fare increase, the railway authorities say that the fare has been increased mainly for the maintenance costs of old bridges (more than 100 meters). The fare has not been increased on all routes. It has increased on some routes. The fare that has increased is not very much.
It is known that in May this year, the Eastern Railway took the initiative to increase the fare by imposing a point charge in order to increase the railway's income. After verification and formal procedures, the decision to increase the fare was finalized in December. The railways have set separate fares for regular trains and non-stop intercity trains. A meeting was held at the office of the Director General of Railways on May 25 to increase income and reduce expenses to manage losses. In that meeting, the chief guest, Secretary to the Ministry of Railways Md. Fahimul Islam, suggested increasing income without increasing ticket fares. He gave instructions to adjust the pontoon charges on bridges over 100 meters long in the eastern region of the railway. The commercial department of the eastern region of the railway started working after this. The railways last increased train fares in the 2016-17 fiscal year.
According to railway sources, a letter signed by Deputy Director (Marketing) of the railways Shah Alam on November 25 asked to take necessary measures to implement the new fare from December 20. The letter was given to the Chief Commercial Officer of the eastern region. Then on December 8, Assistant Chief Commercial Officer Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan approved the letter for implementation and public dissemination in the public interest. The minimum fare in the eastern region is increasing by Tk 5 and the maximum by Tk 226.
According to the railway, pontage charges are being imposed on 11 bridges on six routes. These are: Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Cox's Bazar, Dhaka-Sylhet, Chattogram -Sylhet, Chattogram -Jamalpur and Dhaka-Dewanganj. Earlier, fares had to be paid for a distance of 346 kilometers on the Dhaka-Chattogram route. Now, after the pontage charge, this distance has become 381 kilometers. Due to the increase in the distance of 35 kilometers, the fare for mail on this route has increased from 135 to 150 taka. The fare has increased by 15 taka. In addition, the fare for commuter and shovon chair has increased from 170 and 405 to 190 and 450 taka, respectively. The fare for air-conditioned Snigdha tickets has increased from 777 to 857 taka. The fare has increased by 80 taka. The fare for AC seats has increased from 932 to 1,030 taka. Again, the fare for AC berths (sleeping seats) will now be 1,591 taka. Currently, the fare for these seats is 1,448 taka. On this route, the fare of a Snigdha seat in non-stop trains (such as Subarna Express and Sonar Bangla Express) has increased from 855 to 88 taka to 943 taka. The fare per seat for the first berth and AC seat is now 1,133 and 1,746 taka respectively. Earlier, it was 1,025 and 1,590 taka respectively. The current fare for a Snigdha seat in Cox's Bazar and Tourist Express trains is 1,322 taka. From now on, you will have to pay 1,449 taka. The fare has increased by 127 taka. The fare for an AC seat has increased from 1,590 to 1,740 taka. And the fare for an AC berth is now 2,430 taka, according to the new fare, it has become 2,656 taka. The fare has increased by 226 taka compared to the previous fare.
The fare of a mail train on the Dhaka-Sylhet route has increased from 125 to 140 taka. The fare of a commuter train has been increased from 160 to 170 taka. The fare of a luxury chair has been increased by 35 taka to 410 taka. The fare for Snigdha seat is currently 719 taka, but the new fare will be 788 taka. The fare for AC seat will now be 943 taka instead of 863 taka. The fare for AC berth has increased by 127 taka to 1,465 taka.
On the Chattogram-Sylhet route, the fare for Snigdha seat will be 909 taka instead of 857 taka. The fare for Shovan chair has increased by 25 taka. The fare for the first berth has been increased from 1,080 to 1,137 taka. The fare for AC seat has increased from 1,030 to 1,087 taka. The fare for AC berth has increased by 87 taka. Earlier it was 1,591 taka, now it will be 1,678 taka.
On the Chattogram-Jamalpur route, the fare for mail train has been increased from 175 to 185 taka. The fare for Shovan chair has been increased from 525 to 545 taka. The fare for Snigdha seat has been increased by 34 taka. Earlier it was 1,07 taka, now it will be 1,041 taka. The fare for AC seat has increased by 46 taka. A ticket worth 1,208 taka will have to be purchased for 1,254 taka. The fare for AC berth has increased from 1,856 taka to 1,925 taka.
The fare for mail trains on the Dhaka-Dewanganj route has not increased. However, the fare for commuter trains has increased by 5 taka. The fare of 105 taka is now 110 taka. The fare for Shobhon chair has been increased from 250 to 255 taka, the fare for Snigdha seat from 478 to 489 taka, the fare for AC seat from 575 to 587 taka and the fare for AC berth from 907 to 924 taka.
Mahbubur Rahman, Chief Commercial Manager of the Eastern Region of the Railways, said that the fare has been increased by imposing pontoon charges. However, the fare is not increasing on all routes. The fare is increasing on some routes. Again, the fare that has increased is not very much. This fare has been increased mainly for the maintenance costs of the old bridges (more than 100 meters).
Comment
