Trains b/w Dhaka-Kolkata to start in Sept 2007

Dhaka, July 10: Passenger trains between Dhaka and Kolkata are expected to be commissioned within September in a limited frequency, senior railway officials of India and Bangladesh said here today.

A test train from Bangladesh will go to Kolkata on July 29 when railway officials of the two countries will hold another round of talks before the final operation of the train service which was suspended in 1965.

Initially, two trains--one from Bangladesh and another from India--with passenger capacity of 380 will operate between the two countries in a week. With the development of railway infrastructure, the frequency will be increased.

The understanding was reached at the two-day meeting of senior railway officials of Bangladesh and India that concluded here today. Additional Secretary (Railway Division) of Bangladesh's Communications Ministry A T K M Ismail and Additional Home Secretary of India A E Ahmed led their respective sides to the meeting.

Officials also discussed security issues related to the resumption of the train service.

India proposed construction of 150-feet long and 15-feet high security fence in Indian territory to avoid the entry of smugglers and miscreants by the trains. Supporting it, Bangladesh sought design of the proposed fence from the Indian officials.

With agreements about customs and immigration, to be done at Gede station in Kolkata and at Cantonment station in Dhaka; the train fares were also decided ranging from eight dollar for the ordinary class to twenty dollar for the AC sleeper.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Ismail said trains would be operational ahead of Ramzan with two trains running from Dhaka and Kolkata in a week. The frequency would be increased after development of infrastructures on both sides, he added.

Mr Ahmed expressed the hope that the trains would be commissioned within four weeks of July 29 when a test train from Bangladesh would go to Kolkata. ''I am now more hopeful about the train service,'' he said at the end of the meeting.

On July 8, a test train from Kolkata carrying a 31-member Indian official delegation, arrived here to restore one of the missing links through the introduction of the rail communications.

UNI

Related Stories