Railways Pakshi divisions freight train revenue halved

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

The income of goods trains in the Pakshi section of the western zone of Bangladesh Railways has come down by half. This year has the lowest income in the last 4 years. According to a responsible commercial Officer, the income has decreased significantly.
It is known that from January to September 2023, a total of 583 freight trains operated under Pakshi Railway Division. The income was about Taka 80 crore. But from January to September 2024, only 294 freight trains ran on the route. And as a result, the earning came down to taka 50 crore.
In 2022, 253 crore 88 lakh 70 thousand 333 kg of goods were transported in 1 lakh 9 thousand 192 wagons. This year the revenue was taka 128 crore 72 lakh 53 thousand and 185.
In 2021, the revenue of the goods train was taka 180 crore 74 lakh 69 thousand. In that year, 1 lakh 47 thousand 174 goods were transported in wagons. The weight of these goods was 353 crore 98 lakh 50 thousand 508 kg. In 2021, Pakshi Rail Division of Railways generated the highest revenue from freight trains. However, in the span of three years, in 2024, the revenue of freight trains has decreased to only taka 50 crore.
A railway official, who did not want to be named, said about the decrease in income that the import of goods started to decrease due to the increase in the dollar price at the beginning of 2024. Also due to political unrest and one-way trade (imports, not exports) with India, the import of goods by train has decreased. Meanwhile, the import has come down to the lowest level since July-August this year.
Ishwardi Junction Superintendent Mohibul Islam said that the import of goods from India to Ishwardi junction has decreased from July-August. Some goods arrived in September but no goods arrived in October. Only two rakes of cargo have arrived so far in November. Pakshi Divisional Assistant Commercial Officer of Railways AKM Nurul Alam said that the Commerce Department has worked on how to increase the income of goods trains. Communication with traders and importers continues.
Pakshi Divisional Manager (DRM) of Railways Shah Sufi Noor Mohammad said that goods transportation by Indian freight train has been going on for a long time with our country.