Agartala, Mar 26, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk
Agartala, Mar 26: The much-awaited rail connectivity between India and Bangladesh will soon be established through the Akhaura-Agartala railway line. After inspecting the construction project of the Akhaura-Agartala railway line on Sunday, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury discussed various issues with the stakeholders related to the project. The deadline for this railway project has been extended until June 2023, Chowdhury said.
“Once the project becomes operational, rail connectivity will be established between Kolkata and Agartala, in addition, the rail connectivity between other North Eastern States and Bangladesh will also be established”, the Minister said.
He also said, after the completion of the project, new avenues for business and commerce between the neighbouring countries will also be opened. A new corridor will also be established for the Trans-Asian Railway Network and sub-regional connectivity. All these combined together, the friendly relations between the two countries will be further strengthened.
The India-Bangladesh railway connectivity project will reduce travel time and distance between Dhaka, Agartala, and Kolkata. When the project is completed, it will take 10 hours instead of 31 hours, and the distance will be reduced from 1,600 kilometres to 550 kilometres.
Construction work for Nishchintapur Railway Station on the Indian side of the Agartala-Akhaura railway line, towards Bangladesh, has already been completed. The station has been built incorporating all modern facilities.
Passenger seating arrangements, entertainment facilities, food court, immigration counter, ATM and many other amenities available at a modern railway station have been included in the construction of Nishchintapur Railway Station, Chowdhury said.
A rail yard is also being built next to the Nishchintapur station for loading and unloading goods containers brought by train from Chittagong Port in Bangladesh. After that, these goods can be transported by road and train to various places in the northeast.
During the visit, the Minister was accompanied by Minarani Sarkar, the MLA of the 14-Badarghat constituency, Utpal Kumar Chakma, the secretary of the transportation department, Subrata Choudhury, the additional secretary, and engineers from Indian Railway Construction Limited (IRCON) engaged in railway construction.