Modi likely to flag off Agartala-Kolkata train on May 27

Agartala, May 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off the much-awaited regular train service from Agartala to Kolkata and Agartala to Silchar in Assam next week.

Official sources said today the Prime Minister is likely to flag off the Agartala-Sealdah and Agartala-Silchar trains and lay the foundation stone of the 15-km-long railway line between Agartala and Akhaura in Bangladesh during his visit to Shillong on May 27 to inaugurate the two-day plenary session of North Eastern Council.

Tripura was added to the broad gauge map of the country in March but introduction of the new trains to connect Tripura with the rest of the country was held in abeyance due to election code of conduct in Assam, which would end on May 19,the sources said.

NF Railways earlier announced that new trains could be introduced any time after May 19. The Rs 968 crore project for laying the track for Agartala -Akhaura railway line was settled in January 2010 when Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina met the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi.

The entire cost of the project would be borne by India though only 5 km of the 15-km long track would be in its side and the rest in Bangladesh, NF Railway sources said. The railway line is likely to enhance trade between the two countries and connect the land locked north eastern region with Bangladesh railways.

It would also reduce the distance between Agartala and Kolkata from 1650 km to 550 km, the sources added.

PTI