BD, India agree to expand rly links

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Nizam Ahmed Bangladesh and India have agreed, in principle, to expand existing rail links for boosting friendly ties between the two countries further, officials in Dhaka said on Thursday. Senior officials of Bangladesh and India reached the decision in a three-day interaction that ended in New Delhi on Wednesday after reviewing the progress of Akhaura-Agartala railway link. The officials also agreed to set up three more railway links across the border between the two countries in the coming years. They have also agreed to hold follow up meetings to conduct feasibility studies before starting implementation of the projects. Akhaura-Agartala railway line is now being implemented under joint financing by both countries, a senior railway official said. "But the rest three are still at planning stage and the implementation of these proposed lines may take more time," Additional Director General (Finance), Bangladesh Railway Mr Delwar Hossain said. Besides Akhaura-Agartala railway line, both the countries have been mulling setting up three more railway lines linking Chilahati, Shahbazpur and Birol in Bangladesh with Haldibari, Mahishaashan and Radhikapur in India respectively. Akhaura, Chilahati, Shahbazpur and Birol are under the districts of Brahmanbaria, Niphamari, Netrokona and Dinajpur in Bangladesh respectively, while Agartala, Haldibari, Mahishaashan and Radhikapur are in Tripura, Paschimbanga, Assam and Pachimbaga (Uttar Dinjapur) states respectively in India. Officials of both the countries also agreed to study feasibility of setting up another railway link between Feni in Bangladesh and Indian part of Belonia. However, India, backed by traders belonging to the northeast states of India, are very much eager to implement the proposed railway links in order to have more business with India and avail a transit facility if Bangladesh agrees in future, traders and analysts said. Bangladesh has kept in abeyance a proposal to give transit facilities to India as Paschimbanga state is unwilling to sign agreement with Bangladesh to share water of the common river Teesta. Delegations from India and Bangladesh also agreed in the meanwhile to increase frequency of the Maitree Express as well as introduction of the system of return tickets. Maitree Express, launched in April, 2008, runs twice a week between Dhaka and Paschimbanga capital Kolkata and the relevant authorities in both the countries see economic prospects in expanding the travel frequency of the train. The meeting decided to constitute a working group comprising government officials from both the countries to look into the issues relating to financial, operational, commercial and security including passengers' comfort associated with the running of Maitree Express. The working group is expected to submit its report at the earliest. Additional Director General (Operation), Bangladesh Railway Mr Shah Zahirul Islam and Additional Member (Traffic) of Indian Railway Devi Prasad Pande led the respective teams.