Long-awaited rail connectivity between Agartala and Kolkata is set to become permanent

Agartala, Jun 13, 2024, By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 13: The long-awaited rail connectivity between Agartala and Kolkata, touching Bangladesh, is set to become a permanent reality. Additionally, the eagerly anticipated Belonia-Pheni-Chittagong railway has received approval. Recently, the Bangladesh Railway Board gave the green light for the Final Location Survey (FLS) of the new railway line connecting India and Bangladesh. The total length of this survey is 861 km.

Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi Dey from the North East Frontier Railway revealed that the approved FLS routes for the India-Bangladesh rail link include Bilonia-Pheni-Chittagong. This route spans 131 km, with 38 km of new rail line and 93 km of gauge change. Furthermore, the Gede-Darshana-Ishwardi-Tongi-Bhairab Bazar-Akhaura-Agartala route will undergo a 100 km alteration. Additionally, the proposed Petrapole-Benapole-Nabharan-Jesore-Rupdia-Padmabil-Lohagara-Kashiani-Sivachar-Maba-Nimtala-Gendaria-Dhaka-Tongi-Bhairab Bazar-Akhaura-Agartala route will require a 120 km gauge change. These initiatives aim to strengthen rail connectivity between the two nations.

In parallel, a new alternative route for the North Eastern region will be established in the Farbeshganj-Laxmipur section, spanning 17.60 km. Another new route between Thakurganj and Chatterhat will cover 24.40 km, while the Kumedpur-Ambari Falakatta route necessitates 170 km of new railway line.

Meanwhile, the Balurghat-Hili-Parvatipur-Konia-Lalmanirhat-Mogalhat-Gitaldah section, spanning 32 km, will feature 14 km of new railway line and 18 km of yard change. The proposed Balurghat-Gitaldah-Bamanhat-Sonahat-Golokganj-Dhubri section will extend 56 km, with 38 km of new railway line and 18 km of gauge change. Additionally, a 250 km new railway line is planned for the Balurghat-Hili-Gaibandha-Mahendraganj-Tura-Mendipathar section.

Further expansion includes a 60 km new railway line on the proposed Mangurjan-Pirganj-Thakurgaon-Panchgarh-Haldibari route and an 80 km new railway line on the Dalkhola-Pirganj-Thakurgaon-Panchgarh-Haldibari section. Additionally, the Radhikapur-Biral-Parbatipur-Kaunia-Gitaldah section will cover 32 km, with 14 km of new rail line and 18 km of gauge change.

Sabyasachi Dey also highlighted the surveying of the final location for the rail link between India and Nepal. The Biratnagar-New Mal Junction section will require 190 km of new railway line, while the proposed Golglia-Bhadrapur-Kajli Bazar section will involve 12.5 km of construction. These newly proposed railway lines aim to enhance rail connectivity through the chicken-neck section.

Dey expressed confidence that the Indian government’s commitment to friendly and mutually beneficial relations with neighboring countries, prioritizing rail connectivity, infrastructure development, and people-to-people interactions, will foster increased trade and tourism activities.