Alignment of Dhaka-Agartola rail line finalized
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Munima Sultana
A Bangladesh-India joint railway team has finalised the alignment of Dhaka-Agartola rail line and recommended construction of 10-kilometre tract from Akhaura to Agartola.
The joint team of Bangladesh Railway and Indian Railway Board conducted a survey on both sides of the 214.5 km route during August- September and submitted its report to the respective authorities recently.
The Bangladesh report was sent to the communications ministry today (Tuesday) for the prime minister's approval, officials said.
They said the team will further work on details of the alignment including cost of establishing the goods train service after getting the approval.
The joint team was formed in line with the communiqué on establishment of new rail service between Bangladesh and the landlocked Indian state of Tripura during the Bangladesh Prime Minister's visit to India in January.
They said the team recommended establishment of 5-km new track from Akhaura rail station to Bangladesh border and 5-km in Indian side to reach Agartola as there is no line.
But it recommended construction of double line from Akhaura to Gangasagar station in the Bangladesh part as the BR has programme to upgrade the Dhaka-Chittagong rail line to double track.
Under the double line programme, BR has already constructed double line from Dhaka to Tongi and opened tender to construct the line upto Bhairab under its Dhaka-Chittagong double line upgradation programme.
It has also double track from Ashuganj to Akhaura, the officials added.
Other recommendations submitted by the team include establishing interchange point for checking the goods train on Agartola side and loopline at Imambari station for easy traffic movement.
A Bangladesh-India joint railway team has finalised the alignment of Dhaka-Agartola rail line and recommended construction of 10-kilometre tract from Akhaura to Agartola.
The joint team of Bangladesh Railway and Indian Railway Board conducted a survey on both sides of the 214.5 km route during August- September and submitted its report to the respective authorities recently.
The Bangladesh report was sent to the communications ministry today (Tuesday) for the prime minister's approval, officials said.
They said the team will further work on details of the alignment including cost of establishing the goods train service after getting the approval.
The joint team was formed in line with the communiqué on establishment of new rail service between Bangladesh and the landlocked Indian state of Tripura during the Bangladesh Prime Minister's visit to India in January.
They said the team recommended establishment of 5-km new track from Akhaura rail station to Bangladesh border and 5-km in Indian side to reach Agartola as there is no line.
But it recommended construction of double line from Akhaura to Gangasagar station in the Bangladesh part as the BR has programme to upgrade the Dhaka-Chittagong rail line to double track.
Under the double line programme, BR has already constructed double line from Dhaka to Tongi and opened tender to construct the line upto Bhairab under its Dhaka-Chittagong double line upgradation programme.
It has also double track from Ashuganj to Akhaura, the officials added.
Other recommendations submitted by the team include establishing interchange point for checking the goods train on Agartola side and loopline at Imambari station for easy traffic movement.