If everything goes as planned then Agartala Akhaura ( Bangladesh) rail service will begin this year end, maintained Union Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Patil Danve as he reviewed the progress of the works at Nishchintipur area on Friday.
Recently, the Government of India as well as Bangladesh government both attached importance for the early completion of the project. Of late, Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka and Bangladesh Railway minister visited the project on the other side. Eportedly they were not satisfied with the progress of the work and asked the concerned authorities to expedite the Agartala-Akhaura rail link up.
“Once the project is completed the travel time from Agartala to Kolkata via Akhaura will be reduced by about 22 hours” said the minister after inspection.
The goods transportation will also be easier as the freight train will run on broad gauge. The passenger train will, however, run meter gauge.
The Union MoS for Railways on his visit to Nishchintipur was accompanied by Anshul Gupta, General Manager, North Eastern Frontier Railway, JS Locker, Divisional Railway Manager, Subrata Chowdhury, Additional Secretary, State Transport Department and others.
During his visit Danve held discussions also with the BSF and Bangladesh border guards.
Danve said, at present the bilateral relations between the two countries are at best and will so continue under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh.
Danve had earlier also met Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and discussed various issues particularly relating to the rail services. The MoS expressed satisfaction at the way Tripura government was extending supports to the rail projects.