Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina will jointly...
Digital Desk: Railway connectivity between Northeast India and neighboring Bangladesh is about to take a giant leap forward with the imminent inauguration of the long-awaited Akhaura-Agartala rail link on November 1, 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina will jointly flag off this ambitious project, signaling a new era of cross-border collaboration.
On Monday, a trial run of the Akhaura-Agartala rail link marked a historic moment as the locomotive engine, accompanied by four wagons, crossed into Indian territory in Tripura. Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel conducted necessary screenings before the train ventured into the Indian side of Nischintpur near Agartala.
The 15-kilometer rail link promises to be a game-changer for the people of Northeast India, substantially reducing travel times and boosting trade and commerce with Bangladesh. Previously, it took 33 hours to travel from Agartala to Kolkata. With the new rail link through Bangladesh, this journey will be shortened to just 8 hours, greatly enhancing connectivity for passengers and cargo alike.
The linguistic and cultural similarities between Agartala and Kolkata, combined with longstanding business relationships, are expected to drive high passenger traffic on this route.
Notably, the Ministry of Development of North East Region funded the railway line from Agartala to Nischintapur, while the Ministry of External Affairs supported the rail line from Nischintapur to Gangasagar in Bangladesh.
The Akhaura-Agartala rail link is poised to transform transportation and trade, ushering in a new era of cooperation and economic growth for both India's Northeast and Bangladesh. The inauguration on November 1 is eagerly awaited as a symbol of closer ties and increased connectivity between the two nations.
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