The government is planning to gradually bring railway station services under private sector management, starting with Cox’s Bazar Railway Station, in a bid to improve passenger facilities and reduce operational costs.
The railway authorities have decided to invite tenders for outsourcing station services, including passenger amenities, security and maintenance. Officials believe private operators will ensure better cleanliness, improved waiting areas, quality toilets and enhanced passenger experiences.
The move comes amid long-standing complaints from passengers over poor sanitation, inadequate resting facilities, unclean stations and insufficient seating arrangements.
Several railway activities have already been opened to private participation, including train operations, leasing of railway land for industrial and agricultural use, and ticket sales. However, station management has so far remained under direct government control.
Under the proposed arrangement, private companies will be responsible for managing passenger services and maintaining facilities such as offices, restaurants, coffee shops, lounges, supermarkets, convention halls, shops and restrooms. They will also oversee passenger security while entering and leaving stations.
Railway officials said managing these services with its own workforce increases costs but does not always ensure satisfactory services.
Railway Minister Habibul Rashid told TIMES of Bangladesh that passengers would not face any additional costs after the transition.
“Simply put, we want to improve railway services. The initiative is being taken to ensure that people receive a positive experience after reaching a station,” he said.
The minister said private companies would operate the services in exchange for advertising opportunities and would also have to deposit security money with the railway authorities.
Railway Director General Afzal Hossain said the initiative would help utilise unused railway assets while reducing losses.
“The initiative will ensure proper utilisation of the railway’s unused assets on one hand, while reducing railway losses on the other. The railway’s income will also increase through advertising,” he said.
The new management model will initially be introduced at major railway stations, according to the minister.
Divisional city junctions could also be brought under private management at a later stage. Explaining the reason behind the decision, the minister blamed manpower shortages for poor station services. He said the railway requires 47,000 employees but currently has only 22,000.
Although recruitment efforts have been made under the revenue budget, the Ministry of Finance has not provided the required support, he added.
Professor Shamsul Haque of the Department of Civil Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) welcomed the initiative, saying governments worldwide generally develop transport infrastructure while private organisations provide services.
He, however, stressed that the railway must maintain strict oversight to ensure private operators deliver quality services.
The plan to hand over Cox’s Bazar Railway Station services to private operators has not received a positive response so far. Railway authorities are now preparing a fresh tender after relaxing some conditions included in the previous one.
