Equipment Theft in Akhaura Puts Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Sylhet Train Operations at Risk
From Akhaura, Moinul Bhuiya
Trains travelling from Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura Railway Junction towards Dhaka have to stop about two kilometres from the station. Similarly, trains travelling from Dhaka to Sylhet are also being forced to make frequent unscheduled stops at the same location. According to several sources, trains have been required to stop there for about a week to operate under the railway’s old “piloting” system. As a result, every train is experiencing considerable delays. Train operations are also facing safety risks.
An investigation into the use of the old piloting system revealed alarming information. Various components of the railway’s signalling system are being repeatedly stolen from areas around Akhaura Railway Junction in Brahmanbaria. As a result, trains are operating under considerable risk. The situation is particularly concerning because the stolen components are not sufficiently available with the railway authorities and are also not readily available in the market. Some of the components are expensive. Continued theft could therefore cause serious disruption to train operations.
Signalling is an important part of train operations. Red, green and yellow signals are used to control the movement and stopping of trains. Special cables are used at the posts that operate these signals. The system also includes transformers, chargers and various other components. Thieves and criminals are now targeting this equipment. Signalling components are regularly being stolen from areas stretching from Ashuganj to Akhaura on the Dhaka-Chattogram route and from Akhaura to Noapara in Habiganj on the Akhaura-Sylhet route. Theft has increased recently in the Akhaura bypass and Debgram areas. The situation has become so serious that trains in the bypass area are now being operated using the old piloting system instead of the digital system.
A source in the signalling department of Akhaura Railway Junction said boxes are installed at different locations to operate the signalling system. Thieves are breaking these boxes and stealing wires and other components. Recently, terminals, fuses, relays, track-feed chargers, nuts and other equipment were stolen after boxes were broken open in the Debgram and bypass areas of Akhaura. Information from the Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer and a complaint filed with Akhaura Railway Police Station shows that the stolen materials are expensive and scarce in the market. It is not possible to collect them immediately. Due to the repeated theft of equipment, train operations in part of the station area have become impossible. As the outer signals in three directions near Akhaura station are not functioning, trains have to be operated through the piloting system. This is causing delays in train operations and also raising the risk of accidents. Speaking to this correspondent, Md Zobayer, Senior Sub-Assistant Engineer (Signal) at Akhaura Railway Junction Station, said, “Equipment theft has increased recently. The matter has been reported to the higher authorities, railway police and security forces.”
In response to a question, he said, “Theft is occurring more frequently in the bypass and Debgram areas. The signalling system in the bypass area is completely out of order. As a result, the points have to be manually aligned, and trains operated under the piloting system.” He also expressed concern that the continued theft of signalling equipment could lead to accidents.
