Indo-Bangla railway freight service commences

Despite the pending technical interventions required for passenger services, officials from the North East Frontier Railways confirmed that the 8.1 kilometre railway route between Gangasagar and Nishchintapur is now fully operational for the transportation of goods. Successful trials were conducted on the meter-gauge tracks, ensuring a seamless transition for freight transport.

Addressing the progress, Anindra Chowdhury, Executive Engineer and project in-charge, explained, "The total length of the Agartala-Akhaura railway project is 12.24 kilometres, with 6.78 kilometres in Bangladesh and the remaining 5.46 kilometres in India." The trial runs covered the 8.1 kilometre stretch between Gangasagar in Bangladesh and Nishchintapur in Tripura, India. The meter-gauge line passed the trials, enabling the train to travel from Gangasagar to Tripura without any hindrance. While goods transportation will commence soon, passenger services may require additional time to become operational.

Officials emphasised that the broad-gauge line will open after completing the remaining construction work up to Agartala railway station. The train that reached Agartala on Monday carried a team of six members, including locomotive pilots, railway engineers, and traffic inspectors from Bangladesh Railway.

The entire railway project is estimated to cost more than Rs 9 billion, according to officials. Abdur Rahman, a Bangladesh railway official, expressed optimism about the new railway connectivity, stating, "This international railway link between Eastern Bangladesh and the North Eastern region of India is a first of its kind. I am pleased to represent my government for this trial run. Although it's just a 20-minute journey, its impact will be long-lasting. Both regions stand to benefit, with sectors like railway, health, and trade expected to flourish."