India has proposed to introduce a fourth inter-country train between Dhaka and Kolkata.
Besides the existing three inter-country trains, the Indian authority is looking forward to another train for passenger demand and movement.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswamy came up with such a proposal while paying a courtesy call to the Railways Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan at his office in the capital on Monday. At this time, there was a detailed discussion about the ongoing projects in Bangladesh with Indian funding and the projects that will be undertaken in the future.
The Indian High Commissioner said, “Currently Maitri, Bandhan and Mithali Express trains are running between Bangladesh and India. Considering the passenger demand, one more train can be run between Dhaka-Kolkata via Darshana.”
During the discussion, the minister recalled his visit to India and said that he had visited the modern coach manufacturing factory. He is interested in importing high quality tourist coaches from India to operate on Dhaka to Cox's Bazar route. The Railway Minister expressed his desire to purchase these coaches as well as engines and baggage vans under the line of credit.
India has been urged to speed up the purchase of these. The Railway Minister stressed on increasing connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan. In that case, emphasis is placed on strengthening the Chilahati-Haldibari route.
Other issues discussed in the discussion are the construction of a new railway line from Panchagarh to Banglabandha and the Indian part from Banglabandha where the connection will be established is yet to be decided by the Indian side. So India is urged to expedite this matter.
The railway line from Sirajganj to Bogura is being built with Indian funding. Railway Minister requested to extend Bogura line to Santahar as there is a meter gauge line from Bogura to Santahar.
Apart from this, the problem of construction of Khulna-Mongla railway line, third and fourth railway line from Dhaka to Tongi with Indian funding was discussed in detail. Modernization of Benapole station, construction of ICD at Sirajganj, a modern coach manufacturing plant at Saidpur, training of auxiliary locomotives of Bangladesh in India were also discussed.
During the meeting, Railways Secretary Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir, Director General of Bangladesh Railway Dhirendranath Majumder, Additional Director General (Rolling Stock) Md. Manjurul Alam Chowdhury, Additional Director General (Operation) Sardar Shahadat Hossain were present.