Trial run of Kolkata-Agartala bus service via Dhaka begins

Kolkata, June 1: The trial run of the Kolkata- Agartala bus service via Dhaka was iaugurated from Salt Lake on the outskirts of the city on Monday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh later this week.

Alapan Bandyopadhyay, who is the Principal Secretary of West Bengal Transport department and is leading a delegation to Agartala via Dhaka, felt that the bus service was the first step to open economic windows in South and South-east Asian region.

"This step will open economic windows in South and South East Asian region. The people of Northeastern states will come closer and will be within everybody's reach," Bandyopadhyay told reporters in Kolkata after boarding the Agartala-bound bus via Dhaka.

"The people of Bangladesh too have welcomed the move. Officials from Bangladesh will be present at the Benapole border to receive us," he said.

PTI