Train schedule in disarray: 18 locomotives break down due to parts shortage

A prolonged stagnation in the procurement of spare parts has severely disrupted train operations under the Chattogram Railway Division. Frequent mechanical failures in locomotives—mainly due to the lack of essential components—have resulted in significant delays, directly affecting passenger services and throwing the railway schedule into disarray. In June alone, 18 locomotives under Chattogram Railway broke down while in operation. The key reason behind these breakdowns, according to railway sources, is the acute shortage of critical spare parts, which has delayed timely repairs. Important components such as brake systems, bearings, fan belts, and air compressors are currently in short supply. As a result, even minor malfunctions are difficult to address immediately, forcing railway mechanics to patch up engines with temporary fixes, which often fail again shortly after. Breakdown Log – June 2024: June 1: Locomotive 2924 broke down at Fazilpur Station due to a leaking water delivery pipe—delayed by 1.5 hours. On the same day, loco unit 3008 stalled at Bartakia Station due to an alarm; resumed after 1 hour 17 minutes of rest. June 2: Loco 3024 broke down in Laksam-Nangalkot section for the same reason; resumed after a 5-hour delay. June 6: Loco 2913 failed due to water pipe issues in Laksam-Lalmai section; resumed after 2 hours and 13 minutes. Later that day, loco 2931 broke down at Akhaura due to load meter failure, and loco 2914 at Laksam due to L-3 wick failure. June 7–13: Several more breakdowns occurred in Akhaura-Gangasagar, Chinki Astana-Bartakia, and other sections, with causes ranging from generator blower meter burnout to drive shaft coupling damage and engine overheating. June 15–27: Additional failures reported in Islamabad, Mandabag, Kumira, Sitakunda, and Laksam, mostly due to generator issues or overheating. Engineering Division Deeply Concerned Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Eastern Zone, Kazi Md. Selim, confirmed the issue. "The stores department has failed to meet the growing demand for spare parts. We’re being forced to carry out temporary repairs, but these don’t last. While we need 116 locomotives daily, only 75 to 80 are typically operational out of 135 available engines. This is causing severe disruption to train operation. Budget crisis behind delays : Chief Controller of Stores (CCS), Md. Belal Sarkar, said, we received a huge number of requisitions for spare parts. But there isn’t enough budget allocation. Against a demand of Tk 400 crore, we received only Tk 210 crore in the current fiscal year, and Tk 160 crore is still pending in arrears. Despite this, we’ve opened LCs for importing foreign parts, which we expect to arrive by October. He also cited issues with the mandatory e-GP (electronic government procurement) system. High authorities have mandated 100% use of e-GP. This results in many unqualified vendors participating, causing delays and retendering. The system needs to be relaxed for urgently required parts. Labor leaders voice strong allegations : Advocate M.R. Monju, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Railway Workers’ Party and a Loco Inspector, said,Several associates of the former fascist regime still hold key positions in the railway. Whether out of ignorance or conspiracy, they are turning the railway into a dysfunctional institution. On average, 55 to 60 engines remain out of service daily. We urgently need proper repairs and spare parts.” Passenger Welfare Groups Raise Concerns Passenger welfare organizations in Chattogram have also raised the alarm, stating that mechanical failures are severely affecting service quality. They urge railway authorities to take immediate action to restore reliability and avoid further loss of public trust.