Train Fares Increased on Six Routes

Sometimes directly, sometimes tactically, the railway authorities are increasing ticket prices. This time, instead of directly raising fares, the authority has increased train fares on six routes including Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar by imposing a “pontage charge” or levy. Passengers traveling on trains under Bangladesh Railway’s eastern zone will now have to pay higher fares.

The new fares came into effect on Saturday (December 20).

Depending on the seat class and route, fares have increased by a minimum of Tk 5 to a maximum of Tk 226. However, the move has raised concerns among consumer rights organizations.

The Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said that all the Chattogram routes where fares have been increased are profitable routes. In that case, there is no justification for increasing fares on these routes.

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Chief Commercial Manager of Bangladesh Railway’s eastern zone, said that the fare hike has not been implemented on all routes, but only on certain specific ones. He added that the increase is not very high. According to a government decision, the fare hike has been implemented through the imposition of pontage charges. These charges have been introduced to cover the maintenance costs of old bridges (more than 100 meters long).

Railway sources said that pontage charges have been imposed on 11 bridges across six routes: Dhaka–Chattogram, Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka–Sylhet, Chattogram–Sylhet, Chattogram–Jamalpur, and Dhaka–Dewanganj. On the Dhaka–Chattogram route, the fare for a Snigdha class seat on the Subarna Express train was Tk 585 in 2012. In 2016, it increased to Tk 725. In 2024, after the withdrawal of concession facilities, the fare rose to Tk 855. After the addition of the new pontage charge, passengers now have to pay Tk 943.

Meanwhile, on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route, the Snigdha class fare on the Cox’s Bazar Express and Parjatan Express trains has increased from Tk 1,322 to Tk 1,449. The AC berth fare has risen from Tk 2,430 to Tk 2,656. On this route, fares have increased by up to Tk 226.

The fare hike has caused concern among consumer organizations.

Nazrul Hossain, vice-president of the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said that all the Chattogram routes where fares have been increased are profitable. Therefore, there is no need to raise fares on these routes. Fares could have been increased on loss-making routes instead. Increasing prices without improving services is essentially an attempt to discourage people from using rail transport.

Previously, fares on the Dhaka–Chattogram route were calculated based on a distance of 346 kilometers. After the introduction of pontage charges, the distance has been recalculated as 381 kilometers. Due to the increase of 35 kilometers, the mail train fare on this route has increased from Tk 135 to Tk 150, an increase of Tk 15. In addition, commuter and Shovan chair fares have increased from Tk 170 and Tk 405 to Tk 190 and Tk 450 respectively.

Intercity train tickets are in the highest demand on the Dhaka–Chattogram route. The air-conditioned Snigdha class fare has increased from Tk 777 to Tk 857, a rise of Tk 80. The AC seat fare has gone up from Tk 932 to Tk 1,030. The AC berth (sleeping seat) fare will now be Tk 1,591, compared to the current Tk 1,448. On non-stop trains on this route (such as Subarna Express and Sonar Bangla Express), the Snigdha class fare has increased from Tk 855 by Tk 88 to Tk 943. The fares per seat for first berth and AC seat are now Tk 1,133 and Tk 1,746 respectively, compared to Tk 1,025 and Tk 1,590 earlier.

On the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route, the current Snigdha class fare on the Cox’s Bazar Express and Parjatan Express trains is Tk 1,322. Passengers will now have to pay Tk 1,449, an increase of Tk 127. The AC seat fare has risen from Tk 1,590 to Tk 1,740. The AC berth fare, which was Tk 2,430, has now increased to Tk 2,656, marking a rise of Tk 226.

On the Dhaka–Sylhet route, the mail train fare has increased from Tk 125 to Tk 140. The commuter train fare has been raised from Tk 160 to Tk 170. The Shovan chair fare has been increased by Tk 35 to Tk 410. The Snigdha class fare, currently Tk 719, will now be Tk 788. The AC seat fare has increased from Tk 863 to Tk 943. The AC berth fare has gone up by Tk 127 to Tk 1,465.

On the Chattogram–Sylhet route, the Snigdha class fare has increased from Tk 857 to Tk 909. The Shovan chair fare has risen by Tk 25. The first berth fare has been increased from Tk 1,080 to Tk 1,137. The AC seat fare has gone up from Tk 1,030 to Tk 1,087. The AC berth fare has increased by Tk 87, from Tk 1,591 to Tk 1,678.

On the Chattogram–Jamalpur route, the mail train fare has increased from Tk 175 to Tk 185. The Shovan chair fare has been raised from Tk 525 to Tk 545. The Snigdha class fare has been increased by Tk 34, from Tk 1,007 to Tk 1,041. The AC seat fare has risen by Tk 46, from Tk 1,208 to Tk 1,254. The AC berth fare has increased from Tk 1,856 to Tk 1,925.