Dhaka: There has been no impact of hartals and blockades on the services of Maitree Express running between Dhaka and Kolkata.

The express train is running as usual thrice a week with full of passengers on board.

Still there was an attempt of the arsonists in the afternoon of last February 8 by hurling bombs at Iswardi railway station to create an obstacle. Arsonists carried on bomb attack on three compartments but no damage could be done.

On that day when the train started for Dhaka after filling water in the engine at Iswardi, the attack was carried on. However, the train was brought back to the station. Then it again started for Dhaka after changing the engine.

Despite the bomb attack, Maitree has been running on Dhaka-Kolkata route on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday as before.

The express train has been running thrice in a week from last November though it used to run twice in a week. After mounted pressures of the passengers the Bangladesh and Indian authorities agreed to increase the service for one day more.

However, the passengers had demanded the service six days in a week.

Now, Maitree leaves Chitpur station of Kolkata in the morning of Sunday for Dhaka and leaves Cantonment station in Dhaka on Monday morning for Kolkata.

The train comes to India’s Gede point with electric engine then after entering Bangladesh’s Darsana the engine is replaced by diesel engine onward to Dhaka.

The express train leaves Chitpur at 7.10am Indian time (BST 7.40am) and makes a journey of 375 kilometers for around 10 and a half hours.

No the other hand, the train leaves Cantonment Station of Dhaka at 8:00am.

Moreover, it takes around 3 hours at Darsana and Gede points for customs and immigration formalities. The passengers, however, demanded to complete the checking in the running train which will reduce the hassles and save the time.

Before 1965, these formalities of custom and immigration were done in the running train on Dhaka-Khulna route. The distance between Dhaka-Darsana is 255kms while it is 120kms between Gede and Kolkata.

At present, the road journey to Kolkata has become very much risky due to the hartals and blockades called by BNP and its alliances. Though the transports in Dhaka city is running but the bus journey in the long routes has come to almost a halt. Though some are using the bus service but the fair has increased manifolds even double or triple of the normal fare.

On the other hand, the fare of Maitree non-AC chair coach is Tk 660, AC chair coach Tk 1,133, AC cabin Tk 1,886. However, AC single cabin for 3 persons and double cabin for 6 persons are also available.

The fare, which was fixed in 2008 at the time of introduction, is still the same. For this reason, the passengers are choosing Maitree Express.

The demand of Maitree AC coach is higher and for this reason the booking is to make at least 20 to 22 days beforehand. However, the non-AC berth is available six or seven days earlier.

One official of Dhaka Rail Bhavan told Banglanews that there is no reservation system in Maitree Express. It is sold on first come first serve basis. So, no seat remains vacant.

BDST: 1433 HRS, FEB 17, 2015