A long-standing frustration among Bangladesh’s railway passengers – waiting without knowing when a delayed train will arrive – has turned into a steady source of revenue for a private technology company, with passengers paying for real-time updates on train locations and delays through SMS services.
Passengers sending a text message to check a train’s whereabouts or expected delay are charged Tk5.56 per SMS.
Bangladesh Railway receives Tk1.56 from each message, while the remaining Tk4 is shared between mobile operators and IT firm Suncrops Ltd, which provides the tracking service.
Mobile operators receive 40% of that amount, while Suncrops gets the remaining 60%. The company, however, says its share is Tk1.90 per SMS.
Train delays have been a persistent issue in Bangladesh, with repeated assurances from railway authorities failing to bring a lasting solution.
While passengers continue to face long waits, they have relied on the SMS-based tracking service since Bangladesh Railway signed an agreement with Suncrops in May 2014.
The agreement allows passengers to receive updates on train locations and possible delays through automated SMS replies.
Bangladesh Railway currently operates around 150 pairs of trains nationwide, supported by nearly 350 locomotives, all equipped with GPS tracking systems.
Suncrops installed and maintains the GPS systems at its own cost and collects train data every five seconds, using the information to provide real-time updates.
Passengers send at least 10,000 SMS queries every day to track trains, spending around Tk56,000 daily — amounting to more than Tk2 crore annually.
Suncrops Managing Director Amiruzzaman told TIMES of Bangladesh that SMS demand varies depending on train routes, passenger numbers and the number of stops. He said services see a surge in messages when trains face accidents or major disruptions.
“Long-distance trains and trains carrying more passengers generally generate more SMS requests.
The number also depends on how many stations a train stops at. If a train is involved in an accident, the number of queries increases,” he said.
Bangladesh Railway’s Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer (Telecom) Syed Md Shahiduzzaman said the railway did not spend any money to establish the system.
“The company developed the system and runs a call centre. Passengers can also call to know about train delays and locations,” he told TIMES.
The initial agreement with Suncrops was signed for 10 years, under which the company paid Tk17 lakh to Bangladesh Railway. The railway later renewed the agreement for another 10 years.
Shahiduzzaman said the railway plans to make the SMS service free once the current agreement expires.
According to his estimate, Suncrops earns an average of Tk15 lakh per month from the SMS service.
Asked whether the company was making significant profits from the arrangement, he said, “They also have operational expenses. Running the service costs them around Tk7.73 lakh per month.”
