The construction work of Akhaura-Agartala railway will be completed within the next year, said Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das after visiting the construction work of Akhaura-Agartala railway at Shibnagar area under Moniyondo union around 11:30 pm on Thursday.
Riva also said commercial communication between Bangladesh and North-East India will be established here. Besides, communication with Kolkata may start from here. At that time, First secretary of Indian High Commission Anita Barik, Protocol Officer Amrish Kumer, Akhaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tahmina Akhter Reina, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Akhaura Police Station Rasul Ahmed Nijami along with others were also present.
The 15-km Indo-Bangla railway project would be beneficial for both sides as it will reduce the distance from Bangladesh to Kolkata by 50 percent. In the Indian railway map, the distance between Agartala-Kolkata is 1613 km while it will be reduced to only 514 km once the proposed Indo-Bangla railway project is opened. In Indian side, the 5 km proposed rail link would be broad gauge.