Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj

The Dhaka-Narayanganj railway line is set to be upgraded to a double track. However, the construction of an overpass at the city's main traffic point, Gate No. 2, was previously discussed to address traffic congestion caused by train crossings.

This discussion was active before August 5, particularly during the tenure of the former Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor, who advocated strongly for the project. Now, with Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy no longer in office as NCC Mayor, the double railway line project has regained attention. A crucial meeting is scheduled today (January 27) at the NCC to discuss this project in detail, including plans for Gate No. 2. The city's residents are generally in favor of an underpass or overpass.

However, railway engineers have a different perspective. They argue that significant traffic congestion already occurs at Gate No. 2 due to local vehicular flow, regardless of train crossings. Nonetheless, this matter will be a key point of discussion. On average, about 4,500 passengers, including office workers, businesspeople, and students, commute daily between Dhaka and Narayanganj. Closing the Narayanganj Railway Station to build roads would lead to severe environmental, health, and economic consequences for Narayanganj residents and neighboring areas.

Reports suggest that, under the pretext of reducing traffic congestion, authorities plan to shut down Narayanganj Railway Station, replace the railway route from Chashara to Narayanganj with roads, and construct a multi-storied commercial building on the station site. However, the contribution of the Dhaka-Narayanganj railway in reducing Dhaka's traffic congestion and population pressure is immense. It is crucial to maintain the Narayanganj Railway Station while quickly upgrading the line to a double-track system and ensuring additional facilities.

Recently, Md. Atiqur Rahman, a project officer at Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, pointed out in an article that at Gate No. 2, traffic has to wait for train signals three times an hour, lasting only nine minutes in total. In contrast, vehicles at the intersection adjacent to the railway crossing often wait for signal durations equivalent to 20 signals in an hour, even without any train crossings. Thus, blaming a mere nine-minute train signal for traffic congestion is entirely illogical.

Additionally, relocating the railway station to Chashara would require an equivalent daily transport capacity of 90 buses, 2,250 rickshaws, 1,500 CNG autorickshaws, and 1,500 private cars to transport the same number of passengers. This would further exacerbate traffic congestion, increase travel costs, and worsen the commuting experience for residents.

Engineer Md. Abdus Sobhan highlighted that millions of people rely on the Narayanganj Railway Station for their commute. Despite various conspiracies to discourage train usage, plans to shut down the station have been proposed. He called for an immediate halt to these activities, advocating for increased train coach numbers and the reopening of all currently closed railway stations across the country.

Shahjahan Mridha Benu, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), emphasized that railways provide the most convenient mode of transportation compared to other alternatives. Globally, most cities are prioritizing rail transport systems, while in Bangladesh, we are sidelining railways. Instead of relocating the Narayanganj Station, better management should be implemented.

Maruf Hossain, Program Manager at Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, stated that most cities worldwide maintain central railway stations as a key part of their transportation systems. For example, an overpass like the one in Dhaka's Banani could be built over the railway crossing at Narayanganj's Gate No. 2 to solve the current issues. The railway system plays a vital role in connecting the large population in and around Dhaka.

The Dhaka-Narayanganj railway significantly contributes to reducing Dhaka’s traffic congestion and population pressure. Therefore, maintaining the Narayanganj Railway Station, upgrading it to a double-track system, and ensuring additional facilities is essential for bolstering Bangladesh's economy, transportation network, and workforce mobility.