Agartala-Akhaura International Rail Link to Be Inaugurated Soon: Report

After the completion of this railway project, it is estimated that the travel time between Kolkata and Tripura via Dhaka will be reduced significantly, 'The Hindu' has reported.

The Wire Staff

After the completion of this railway project, it is estimated that the travel time between Kolkata and Tripura via Dhaka will be reduced significantly, 'The Hindu' has reported.

agartala akhaura international rail link to be inaugurated soon report

Agartala and Akhaura on Google Maps.

New Delhi: An international rail link between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh is a step closer to reality after the successful completion of a freight train trial on the 10.5 kilometre track, as reported by The Hindu. The freight train with an engine and three cargo containers started its journey from Gangasagar railway station of Bangladesh and reached Nischintapur in Tripura in the trial.

In 2010, during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two countries to start the first international Indo-Bangla railway project.

Even though no official announcement has been made for the inauguration of this railway, it is likely to be soon, according to the report. The respective prime ministers of India and Bangladesh will flag the project off in the virtual mode.

Smita Pant, Indian MEA Joint Secretary (Bangladesh and Myanmar) said, “the route would be the sixth operational rail link with Bangladesh and preparations are on to establish the seventh with Assam.”

Before the successful trial last Thursday, several trials took place in the last few weeks. The project was meant to be completed by June 2023 but it got delayed due to construction-related issues, according to the railway officials.

Tripura shares an 856 km-long international border with Bangladesh, much of which is disputed locally. The northeastern states, including Tripura, are only accessible through a narrow strip of land in West Bengal.

After the completion of this railway project, it is estimated that the travel time between Kolkata and Tripura via Dhaka will be reduced to 10 hours from 31 hours.

This article went live on November first, two thousand twenty three, at four minutes past two in the afternoon.

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