Talks on Dhaka-Kolkata train service to resume next week

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FE Report
A six-member high-powered delegation from Bangladesh Railway will visit India next week to discuss the Kolkata-Dhaka passenger train service that is caught in a row between India and Bangladesh over wire fencing, according to an Indian newspaper report.

Though coaches, tracks and staff required to operate the train services are ready, the vexed issue of fencing the no-man's land has stalled the inaugural run.
While Indian authorities insist on fencing off the no-man's land at Indo-Bangladesh border for customs and immigration clearance, Bangladesh, it is learnt, has reservation about it.
"The high-powered delegation from Bangladesh Railway are coming to India next week to sort out the issue," the newspaper quoted a senior Indian Railway Ministry official as saying.
"Though we are fully ready with our preparation to run the passenger train to Dhaka, the issue of fencing the area between Gede on the Indian side and Darshana in Bangladesh has not been resolved yet," he said.
Tentatively named as Maitree Express, the train will have 14 coaches including air-conditioned coaches and pantry car and cover about 400 km distance between Chitpur (Kolkata) to Joydevpur (Dhaka) in 14 hours.
"It is a non-stop train and though the journey will take only eight hours, the Custom and immigration clearance at both sides will take six hours," the official added.
"However, we are trying to reduce the customs clearance time to four hours," he added.
The ticket rate is fixed at Rs 450 per person tentatively. However, a final decision is likely to be taken soon.’