Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) has cut rental charge for special parcel train service to make transportation of local agricultural products attractive to farmers.
Since the service was launched on three routes on May 01 to help farmers carry their goods to different locations amid coronavirus lockdown, the BR has hardly got any response.
As per the revision, rent based on mileage has been reduced by 25 per cent, thus rebating service charges.
The fresh rate is applicable from today (Tuesday), according to a BR press release.
Officials said the parcel service, earlier used for transporting personal belongings attached with passenger trains, will now help marginal farmers transport vegetable, fruit, egg and milk countrywide.
The BR initially rolled the special trains on the routes of Chattogram-Dhaka, Dhaka-Dewanganj and Khulna-Dhaka.
But three days after launch, it suspended the service and changed the routes between Chattogram-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Bhairabbazar-Mymensingh and Panchagarh-Dhaka with intent to get better response.
BR traffic department said it expects better response as farmers will now be able to transport goods at a much lower rate than that of road transport.
Per-kilogram rent per kilometre from Panchagarh will now be Tk 1.56. It was Tk 3.12 previously.
The charge on Khulna route will now be Tk 1.46 which was Tk 2.94 earlier.
On the other hand, the rent on Chattogram-Rajshahi route will now be Tk 1.17 which was Tk 2.36.
Since March 26, the BR has kept all its train services suspended to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The suspension, however, forced the train operator to lose substantially.