Kurigram, Aug. 12 -- kilometre stretch of railway from Chilmari to Kurigram town, time seems to stand still and not in a good way.

The journey, which should take less than half an hour, drags on for nearly two and a half hours, a stark reminder of the dilapidated condition of the Kurigram-Chilmari rail line.

A long-promised modernisation project, launched last year, has yet to deliver any tangible improvements.

Despite grand plans and budget allocations, progress has been slow to the point of near stagnation.

For locals, the frustration is growing. They feel forgotten by policymakers, watching deadlines slip while the quality of service continues to deteriorate.

At present, only a single local train runs the route each day, often lat...