Ishwardi Railway Junction needs modernization

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Ishwardi Railway Junction, the largest British-era railway junction under Paksey division, has not been modernized even in hundred years. This old station is plagued with various problems. The stench of excrement is always present around the four platforms. Passenger service does not have minimum facilities. None of the four platforms of the Centenary A station have electric fans. Platform tubewells are broken, bathroom facilities are not adequate. The station is surrounded by pickpockets. Ishwardi Junction was inaugurated with the construction of Hardinge Bridge on the Padma River. After the British, Pakistan and Bangladesh have not taken development initiatives even after half a century.
It can be seen on the ground on Friday morning that there are four platforms at Ishwardi Railway Junction. There is a toilet in one. Even if there is a tubewell, it is damaged. Passengers are suffering due to this.
It is known that 32 passenger trains pass through this station every day. Every day about thousands of passengers travel to different destinations through this station. Train passengers suffer in intense heat. Passengers are disappointed and angry as the railway authorities have not provided fans for passenger service on the platform even in hundred years. Recently, 4 platforms of the station were raised and extended with project funding during the laying of rail lines of Rooppur Nuclear Power Project. As a result of raising the platform, the floors of all the British-era offices in the station are now much lower. The extended part of platform No. 3 and 4 has no canopy. Passengers have to board the train in this part, which is burnt by the sun and wet by the rain. Excrement is scattered in different parts of the railway line under the platform. Unsanitary environment in passenger restrooms. Air-conditioned and first class lounges are in deplorable condition. Passengers leave the restrooms and stand outside due to the stench of the toilets. Although the tinned canopy of platforms No. 3 and 4 had been replaced recently, there were numerous small and large holes visible when looking at the canopy (roof) of platforms No. 1 and 2. The platform gets washed away in the slightest rain.
Passenger Harunor Rashid said that there is no good arrangement for passengers to sit on the platform. There are no washrooms and water facilities. He also said that while there are fans on the platforms of smaller stations, there is no fan in one of the biggest stations.
Former commissioner freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman Fantu said that before the National Assembly elections, the Awami League had promised to implement the demands of Ishwardi station re-modelling in three rounds of election rallies, but no initiative was taken for a long time.
Paksey Railway Divisional Engineer (DN-2) Birbal Mondal said, the tubewell has been repaired. Any other issues will be resolved soon.
Paksey Divisional Manager (DRM) of Railway Noor Mohammad said that the modernization of Ishwardi Junction is as per the plan of higher authorities. I have only been here for 2 months. I don’t know anything about this.
Western Railway General Manager Asim Kumar Talukdar told Ittefaq that there is a plan to modernize Ishwardi Junction Station. Implementation is not possible due to funding.