Northeast Desk, 30th October: In a landmark development, the trial-run of the Agartala-Akhaura rail link was successfully carried out, marking the entry of a locomotive engine with four wagons from Bangladesh into Tripura for the very first time.
The much-anticipated Agartala-Akhaura rail project is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart from Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, on November 1.
Prior to entering the Indian side near Nischintpur, close to Agartala, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel conducted thorough screenings of the engine and attached wagons.
This project holds immense significance on both the international and domestic fronts. Currently, the rail route from Agartala to Kolkata spans approximately 1600 kilometers and takes approximately 38 hours. Once operational, the Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link will considerably reduce this distance by around 500 kilometers, resulting in a travel time of just 16 hours between Agartala and Kolkata.
Furthermore, this rail link will establish direct access between the landlocked states of Northeast India and Bangladesh’s Chittagong port.
Notably, the railway line from Agartala to Nischintpur was funded by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), whilst the train route from Nischintpur to Gangasagar in Bangladesh was backed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
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