Dilapidated railway track forces trains to crawl on Kurigram-Ulipur route

Trains are struggling to run at a snail’s pace on the 20-kilometer railway stretch between Panchpir Railway Station in Ulipur and Ramna Railway Station in Chilmarhi due to severely deteriorated tracks.

The railway line is missing essential stones, and many wooden sleepers have rotted away. In some sections, thick grass has overgrown between the rails, and at several joints, only half the required nuts and bolts are in place. This risky condition forces trains to operate at a dangerously slow speed of just 15 kilometers per hour, far below their usual pace of 45 to 50 kilometers per hour on other routes.

Traveling this route takes the Ramna local train over an hour and a half, nearly triple the time it would normally require. Passengers and officials alike have expressed serious safety concerns, with frequent swaying and occasional derailments reported. Adding to the danger, local children often jump on and off moving trains along the route.

Passenger Amjad Hossain said, “The journey takes so long that if it continues this way, traveling by bus would be more practical.”

The Lalmonirhat railway division revealed that over a year ago, a tender was issued for the track’s repair, with Bishwas Construction appointed as the contractor. Despite some soil filling and minor bridge repairs, critical tasks such as replacing sleepers, laying stones, and renewing rails remain unfinished due to a shortage of sleepers.

Bazlur Rahman, senior assistant engineer at Lalmonirhat railway division, confirmed, “Though repair work began with a budget of around 31 crore taka, progress has halted due to the lack of sleepers.”

Rubel Mia, manager at Bishwas Construction, added, “We expect some sleepers to arrive next month. Once they do, the repair work from Durgapur to Ulipur will be completed.”

Abu Hena Mostafa Alam, divisional railway manager, acknowledged the risks, stating, “The track is indeed hazardous. Repair work is expected to resume by October or November.”

Meanwhile, locals continue to face delays and safety risks as the rail line awaits much-needed rehabilitation.