The government is taking firm measures to improve railway services and prevent ticket scalping, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid said today (20 March).
He made the remarks after visiting Chattogram Railway Station this morning, adding that the government is prioritising better service quality and addressing mismanagement to make railways more accessible and popular among the public.
The minister said modernisation efforts are currently underway across the railway sector. Under directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, initiatives have been taken to introduce Wi-Fi services on trains.
The service is already being tested on three trains, with plans to gradually expand it to all trains.
Commenting on Eid travel, Habibur Rashid said passenger experience has been “fairly good” so far, though he acknowledged that media reports provide a clearer picture.
“We are closely monitoring reports from social media, electronic media, and print media, and taking prompt steps to improve services wherever needed,” he said.
Responding to a question on train safety and accidents, the minister said necessary instructions have been issued to ensure railways become a safer mode of transport. He reiterated the government’s aim to make train travel an affordable and widely used option for the general public.
He also noted that there are special development plans in place for Chattogram Railway Station as part of broader efforts to expand railway services and make them more accessible to people.
On reducing losses and making the railway sector profitable, the minister said authorities are identifying areas of mismanagement.
“We are working to transform the railway into a profitable organisation through necessary reforms,” he said.
He acknowledged issues related to ticketing software and black market sales, saying the matter has already been discussed at the ministry level.
“To ensure there are no complaints regarding ticketing, instructions have been given to upgrade the software and develop a robust system that eliminates any সুযোগ for black marketing or corruption,” he added.
During the visit, the minister spoke with officials and provided directives to ensure better passenger services. Senior railway officials, including officials from the eastern zone, were present during the inspection.
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