Pranab flags off Dhaka-Kolkata Moitree Express
Kolkata, Apr 14: The Kolkata-Dhaka Moitree Express resumes journey after being stopped by activists of All Bengal Citizens Forum. The activists say that there should not be any friendly train with countries, which harbour ISI.
The
passenger
train
service
between
India
and
Bangladesh,
which
was
suspended
for
more
than
four
decades
resumed
operations
today.
The
'Moitree
Express'
was
flagged
off
by
External
Affairs
Minister
Pranab
Mukherjee
on
the
first
day
of
the
Bengali
New
Year
today.
The
train,
which
can
carry
370
passengers,
will
run
between
Dhaka
Cantonment
and
Chitpur
in
Kolkata
through
the
Darshana
border
once
a
week
from
both
sides.
A train each will leave Dhaka and Kolkata on Saturdays and start the return journey on Sundays.
The fares will be between eight dollars and 20 dollars depending on classes for the 538-km journey - 418 km in Bangladesh and 120 km in India.
A passenger train service between Dhaka and Kolkata was introduced towards the end of the Awami League Government in July 2001. One train had run on trial basis, but the service was cancelled after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led coalition came to power.
The two cities are currently connected by air and bus services. The slow train is expected to cover a distance of 345 kilometres between Dhaka and Kolkata in 12 hours.
The train service between India and Bangladesh was suspended during the 1965 war between India and Pakistan, when Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan, and was referred to as East Pakistan.
ANI