Turmoil in Bangladesh delays Agartala-Akhaura line connectivity undertaking additional
People collect because the Akhaura-Agartala rail hyperlink enters the Indo-Bangladesh border throughout its trial run, at Nischintapur, in Agartala. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
The turmoil in Bangladesh has put inter-country rail connectivity alongside the essential Agartala-Akhaura hyperlink, which connects Tripura to Kolkata chopping throughout the guts of Bangladesh, in a lurch.
Talks for the long-pending hyperlink, which date again to 1974, had been revived earlier this 12 months, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina just about inaugurated their pet undertaking.
Indian Railway officers stated that of the 12.24 km twin gauge rail line, work on the 5.46 km line, which originates in Tripura’s Agartala and results in the Nischintapur station which onwards results in the Bangladesh border coming into into Akhaura, had been accomplished.
“The Commissioner of Railway Safety has inspected the works along the newly constructed line and has made some observations. After working on those, the line will get ready from the Indian side for commissioning. The commissioning of the line has not yet happened,” Northeast Frontier Railway spokesperson Sabyasachi De instructed The Hindu.
“Another 6.78 km lie on the Bangladeshi side, and Bangladesh railway officials are responsible for carrying out work on their side across the border. With political turmoil, the connectivity project will get delayed furthermore. The whole seat of power has changed, so for us right now when the rail connectivity between two countries gets established is a wait and watch situation,” Indian Railway officers stated.
Cuts journey time
Currently the journey time between Agartala and Kolkata is 31 hours, and if the inter-country line chopping throughout Bangladesh is activated it’ll cut back the journey time between Agartala and Kolkata to 10 hours. It will lower the present commute distance from 1,581 km to 460 km when it will get operational. In May earlier this 12 months, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha had stated the hyperlink would get operational ‘very soon.’
In December final 12 months, the estimated undertaking value of India facet ranged as much as ₹708.73 crore, whereas on Bangladesh facet the associated fee ranged as much as ₹392.52 crore. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has prolonged Bangladesh authorities the monetary help to culminate work on the opposite facet.
According to the official map of Bangladesh Railway, there’s present rail connectivity from Akhaura to Dhaka and onwards to Kolkata, through a number of routes. Owing to the unstable scenario, Indian Railways has suspended practice providers alongside the prevailing routes connecting Dhaka to Kolkata that embrace Maitree Express, Bandhan Express and Mitali Express. All freight and cargo motion has additionally been suspended, with practically 355 Indian wagons caught on Bangladeshi facet.