The current train will meet. Railways will run additional 16 Eid special trains. About 3.5 million passengers will travel by train in 14 days during the Eid journey. Two and a half lakh will travel daily. 378 passenger trains have already been kept ready. Out of which 125 intercity trains will also run. Week-long Eid advance ticket sales ended on Saturday. Passengers who have booked tickets in advance from April 3 will return to the village by pulse. On the other hand, Eid return passengers will get return tickets from April 3. This time too, railways is selling 100% tickets online. Millions of people also hit the online/app to buy advance tickets for Saturday 9th April.

On Saturday afternoon, Railway Director General (Additional Duties) Sardar Shahadat Ali told Yugantar that not only during Eid, but also during normal times, the pressure of passengers in the train is the highest. Even if we are not able to provide tickets as expected, we will try our best to transport extra passengers on the occasion of Eid. We have added 16 Eid special trains and hundreds of additional coaches under the direction of Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) and Sir (Railway Minister). Special trains will also run for 14 days during the Eid journey. About two and a half lakh passengers will travel by train every day. We have completed all preparations. All arrangements have been made at field level including rolling stock to run trains as per schedule.

Sardar Shahadat Ali also said that lakhs of people have hit online/app against fixed tickets. Common people are definitely spending extra money while buying tickets and trying online. Once people used to wait in front of the station counter day and night for 2-3 days to buy tickets. Had to spend money to come to the station. Now there is no suffering. People are happy to get tickets even though online usage costs some money. But we would have been happy if we could have given the ticket as expected. The government is increasing the number of railways and trains one by one. Radical changes are coming to the railways. With the increase in the number of trains, the passenger traffic will also increase.

Sources of the Railway Operations and Transport Department say that this is the first time train tickets are being booked through OTP (One Time Password). So far no complaint of ticket black market has been raised. A few days before the advance ticket sale, 9 people associated with the private organization ‘Sahaj.com’ were arrested on the charge of ticket black market. An officer of the operations department said that hundreds of people used to come to the railway building during the previous Eid trips to get advance tickets under special arrangements. Recently, the entry of general public has been restricted through the railway gate. No one is allowed access to ticketing matters.

Meanwhile, Kamalapur Railway Station Manager Masud Sarwar told Yugantar that although it is not possible to give tickets as per the expectations of common people, advance tickets have been sold every day within the stipulated time. There is no ticketing system. No advance tickets are being sold from the counter. We are now preparing how to deliver the passengers safely. Adequate security measures have been ensured from station premises to gates and platforms. A three-layer bamboo temporary fence has been erected at the entrance. Passengers will enter the station through 4 queues. This arrangement is for the ticket holders to return home easily.

It is known that scout members will perform duties at Chittagong, Rajshahi and Sylhet railway stations along with Kamalapur for the convenience of passengers during the Eid journey. Simultaneously, Railway Police, Railway Security Force and members of various law enforcement agencies will be on alert at stations and trains. Stations and trains will also have first aid facilities. This time, the trains running on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route will also run with passengers on the Eid trip.

Dhaka Railway Police Station OC Ferdous Ahmed Biswas told Yugantar that this time there was no ticket black market in Kamalapur railway station or outside the station. No complaints of ticket black-marketing have been received. Railway police are on high alert. Eid Yatra will start on April 3. In order to ensure the safety of passengers, members of various law and order forces will be stationed at stations and trains along with railway police. The police officer requested the passengers not to eat from any stranger and to inform the police if they see any suspicious person.

General Manager of Western Railway Asim Kumar Talukder told Jugantar, “We are visiting the field every day under the direction of the Railway Minister. Railways, stations including railway bridges, station outers have been brought under inspection. Additional engines and coaches have been kept ready in various sections of the region. If a train’s wheel or engine breaks down, it will be repaired and the train will be started as soon as possible.

Eastern Railway General Manager. Nazmul Hossain told Jugantar that 100 engines have been kept ready in the region to ensure smooth Eid journey. A meeting is being held with the train driver, guard and the related parties – everyone should fulfill their responsibilities. The leave of the railway officers and employees on duty at the field level has been cancelled.

Additional Director General of Railways (Rolling Stock) Perth Sarkar told Jugantar that the railway has been inspected several times to ensure smooth Eid journey. Our people will be in charge at the field level. Engine-coach is kept ready. We hope the passengers can travel by train smoothly during the Eid journey.