The Akhaura-Agartala railway project will be jointly inaugurated by the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India in September, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan has said.
The minister was speaking to reporters while inspecting the railway in Akhaura's Kharkut area in Brahmanbaria on Wednesday afternoon.
Sujan said: "Direct trains from Agartala to Kolkata are currently not running due to a lack of dual-gauge railway lines in the eastern part of Bangladesh. If the dual-gauge railway from Akhaura to Tongi is constructed, trains will be able to go directly from Agartala to Kolkata."
The railways minister stated that the opening of this railway line will begin a new era of business and trade between the two countries.
Meanwhile, he announced that at least four additional trains will be added to the Dhaka-Chittagong route in September to reduce passenger congestion.
Akhaura-Agartala Railway Project Director Abu Zafar Mia, Texmeco Rail and Engineering Country Director Sharat Sharma, Brahmanbaria Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Ruhul Amin and senior railway officials accompanied the minister during his visit.
