Poor technical maintenance

Regular routine maintenance is an invisible, essential service, needing trained and experienced teams, with proper logistic support (tools, equipment, and budget). Senior controlling officers need some extra awareness on the importance of regular maintenance service in any organisation.

The management and administration have to be technically-oriented, for reducing the systems losses. There is hardly any scope for debate. The capital cost of a huge project loses its face value if the maintenance is neglected (the difference between the healthy and the sick).

The launch disasters we are facing is also due to poor maintenance, plus loss of control over transparent regulatory practices (unscientific designs approved through faked documents).

Many passengers are switching over from launches to trains as IWT has become an unreliable sector as far as safety is concerned.

A railway system can run well if well maintained, as the maintenance cost is not comparatively higher as in the case of hi-tech projects where updating is required at frequent intervals (plus refresher training at regular intervals). The BR officials have admitted that while the main lines are being maintained, there is not enough budget for the branch lines. Our density of population is very high, hence alternative travel routes are a must. Here travelling is not a pleasure, and we are harping on tourist promotion!

The point to note in this corruption-ridden age is that extra money is spent on purchasing expensive new capital goods, compared to the 10-15 percent relative budget required for maintenance. First maintain, then buy in phases.

Both BR and IWT need top priority to overcome the crisis in travel and transportation; whereas the emphasis is on "roads, bridges and culverts" as heard frequently on the radio and TV. The Dhaka metro circular river service drew huge publicity when the PM opened the service the other day, and many went to the terminal ghat for a joy ride, but were disappointed (DS report Mar 5). Premature openings create problems; viz BTTB mobile telephone service (DS Mar 5). Political publicity and PR have to be carefully planned. It is bad news to read (DS Mar 5) that not a single electric power project got going during the last three years of this regime! Trying to be transparent? The intention is good, but what about hidden motivationsthe backdoor syndrome?

Pay for maintenance, and spend less in the long run. There is scope for corrupt practices, but the percentage is lower than in capital budgets. Before going for new projects, first examine what could be done about the existing projects.