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Rajshahi-Kolkata train services to be restored


Published : 30 Oct 2019 09:16 PM | Updated : 04 Sep 2020 08:24 PM

The government is considering to establish and restore Rajshahi-Kolkata railway services via Malda, official sources said on Wednesday.

In this regard, both the countries have agreed to form a joint working group which will help to implement the railway line at a faster pace.

The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Riva Ganguly Das while paying a courtesy call on the Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan at Railways Bahban in the capital on Wednesday elaborately discussed the railway communication issue between the two countries.

After discussions, it was decided that the joint working group of Bangladesh and India would work and soon decide on the issue.

It is to be noted, train services between Rajshahi and Kolkata were functional until 1947. Commuters inliving in the two cities demand re-introducing train services like that of Maitree Express. 

In the meeting, they also discussed in detail about the ongoing projects that India is currently financing in Bangladesh. Besides, they also reviewed the progress that was made during the railway minster’s visit to India.

During the meeting, the Riva Ganguly Das said, “India proposed to construct a small ICD (Inland Container Depot) on the western bank of the Jamuna River.”

In this regard, a small size ICD will be constructed in Sirajganj market. Places have been inspected for the construction of the actual ICD, and with the consent of both sides, construction of infrastructure will be carried out soon.  A total of 20 locomotives would be initially be imported from India to add to the existing fleet of locomotives. 

Under the Indian Line of Credit (LOC), they also discussed the construction progress of three important railway projects of Khulna-Mongla Railway Construction Project, Dhaka-Tongi Third and Fourth rail line and up-gradation of Saidpur and Pahartoli railway workshops.