Rail link work to start this year | The Daily Star
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013
AKHAURA-AGARTALA
Rail link work to start this year
Staff Correspondent
India and Bangladesh are aiming to start setting a rail link between Agartala, the capital of Indias northeastern state of Tripura, and Akhaura, a Bangladeshi town near the border, by the end of this year.
This was disclosed by officials of both countries after the project steering committee discussed the issue at a meeting at Bangladesh Rail Bhaban in the capital yesterday.
They said land acquisition, finalisation of alignment and detail design of the rail link would be completed by September next to pave the way for laying tracks.
Today [yesterday] we discussed how fast we can start acquiring land, detail study and determining costs, said Sunil Kumar Pal, joint secretary of Bangladesh railway ministry, who headed a six-member Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.
We want to do it within the next four months so that the construction work can begin at the end of 2013, he told The Daily Star.
Echoing his view, Kishor Ambuly, secretary of transport department of Tripura government, said the meeting discussed how the two sides could execute the rail link project in an expeditious way.
Soon we will begin land acquisition process to determine how much land will be needed and its cost, he told The Daily Star, hoping to begin the projects construction in December next.
Radhika L Lokesh, additional secretary of Indian external affairs ministry, led a six-member delegation at yesterdays meeting.
In February this year, Bangladesh and India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of the 15 kilometers rail tracks, of which 5 kilometers fall in the Indian side and the rest in Bangladesh.
As per the agreement, an estimated $28.05 million will be required to set up the railway line. India will bear the entire cost.
India is very keen to link Agartala with Akhaura as it is an important railway junction and is connected with Chittagong seaport as well as the capital and Sylhet.
The rail link will benefit India hugely in transporting goods from the mainland to its seven sister states, especially the Tripura state.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013
AKHAURA-AGARTALA
Rail link work to start this year
Staff Correspondent
India and Bangladesh are aiming to start setting a rail link between Agartala, the capital of Indias northeastern state of Tripura, and Akhaura, a Bangladeshi town near the border, by the end of this year.
This was disclosed by officials of both countries after the project steering committee discussed the issue at a meeting at Bangladesh Rail Bhaban in the capital yesterday.
They said land acquisition, finalisation of alignment and detail design of the rail link would be completed by September next to pave the way for laying tracks.
Today [yesterday] we discussed how fast we can start acquiring land, detail study and determining costs, said Sunil Kumar Pal, joint secretary of Bangladesh railway ministry, who headed a six-member Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.
We want to do it within the next four months so that the construction work can begin at the end of 2013, he told The Daily Star.
Echoing his view, Kishor Ambuly, secretary of transport department of Tripura government, said the meeting discussed how the two sides could execute the rail link project in an expeditious way.
Soon we will begin land acquisition process to determine how much land will be needed and its cost, he told The Daily Star, hoping to begin the projects construction in December next.
Radhika L Lokesh, additional secretary of Indian external affairs ministry, led a six-member delegation at yesterdays meeting.
In February this year, Bangladesh and India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of the 15 kilometers rail tracks, of which 5 kilometers fall in the Indian side and the rest in Bangladesh.
As per the agreement, an estimated $28.05 million will be required to set up the railway line. India will bear the entire cost.
India is very keen to link Agartala with Akhaura as it is an important railway junction and is connected with Chittagong seaport as well as the capital and Sylhet.
The rail link will benefit India hugely in transporting goods from the mainland to its seven sister states, especially the Tripura state.
