২২শে ডিসেম্বর, ২০২৪ খ্রিস্টাব্দ
সংস্করণ:
Bangladesh and India are set to carry out import and export of goods by railway through Akhaura-Agartala dual gauge. The people involved in the project are gearing up to inaugurate the much-awaited railway on September 10. Trial runs have been carrying out on this route since August 22. After the implementation of the project, along with road transportation, rail link would ease transportation of freights from Chittagong port and Dhaka to the northeastern states of India known as the Seven Sisters.
Bangladesh and India are likely to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming G-20 summit on September 10. The two Premiers Sheikh Hasina and Naredra Modi would inaugurate the newly constructed Akhaura-Agartala railway during this meeting. The connectivity initiative is expected to be a game changer for both India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh will join the international Trans-Asian Railway along with the increase in rail communication between Bangladesh and India. Hence, it has created considerable excitement among the people of both of the countries.
In July 2018, the construction started after the inauguration by the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India on September 10, 2017. The railway line, which is 15.064 km long — 5.05 km in India and 10.014 km in Bangladesh — will link Bangladesh’s Akhaura, through an international immigration station at Nischintapur, to the outskirts of Agartala. The project is implemented by Indian contractor Texmeco Rail and Engineering Limited under the LoC of India.
The MoU was signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January 2010. Through many ups and downs, the project, which has been going on for 13 years, is finally set to open. The project was supposed to be over in 2020 but was delayed following land acquisition issues and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 15-kilometre-long railway line would link Bangladesh’s Akhaura through an international immigration station at Nischintapur along the India-Bangladesh border. Once operational, the railway will reduce travel time between Agartala and Kolkata from 31 hours to 10 hours, creating a plethora of opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Apart from the land border transportation, currently, Bangladesh and India are connected through five rail roots: Darshana-Gede, Benapole-Petrapole, Rohanpur-Singabad, Birol-Radhikapur, and Chilahati-Haldibari. Aiming to increase regional connectivity, railways are being built on another 5 border routes between Bangladesh and India. The newly constructed Akhaura-Agartala railway line is going to be the first transborder rail link built to connect the north-eastern states. As the second Indo-Bangla rail link, the Feni-Bilonia railway is under construction, which will connect Tripura through rail communication.
This newly constructed Akhaura-Agartala railway is a milestone in terms of communication and goods transportation for both Bangladesh and India. It will connect Tripura through direct rail line for transportation of goods through Mongla and Chittagong ports. The rail link will easily connect Bangladesh with two Indian states, Tripura and West Bengal, through rail communication. Through this, Tripura, as well as the entire North East will connect with other parts of India by using every aspect of multimodal transit and transshipment, which includes roads, seaports, inland waterways and railways.
This new railway link will reduce travel time between the two Indian cities of Kolkata and Agartala. The train from Agartala to Kolkata will cover a distance of 500 kilometres via Dhaka. The travel time between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka, which currently takes about 31 hours, will be reduced to 10 hours. The 15-km long railway link connecting Agartala with Gangasagar will play a crucial role in the overall development of the North Eastern region. Those from Mizoram, which is 150 kilometres away, and those from Agartala will benefit from the current line.
On the other hand, India and Bangladesh have signed an agreement, allowing Indian traders to use Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh for transportation of goods. This railway will not only increase the movement of the people of two countries but will also play an important role in the import and export of goods from Chittagong port A railway link between Mongla to Khulna will establish direct rail communication between the Mongla port and the capital city. The 65 KM long Khulna-Mongla rail link (KMRL) under Indian LOC is also likely to open by this September. Export and import using Mongla port would be easy via Mongla-Dhaka-Agartala railways, resulting in a boost in trade and adding value to the economic development of both nations as well as states.
Apparently, trade partnership between the countries has become more important for India in the future as Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Thus, situated in a geostrategic point between West Bengal and the northeastern states of India, Bangladesh is working to improve its trade and connectivity.
In addition to multimodal transit transshipment, several new ports of call and protocol routes have been added for trade between the two countries. To improve road connectivity, the Maitri Bridge was constructed over the Feni River in 2021, connecting Sabrum in India’s Tripura with Ramgarh in Bangladesh. Apart from regional connectivity, Bangladesh has contributed to bring peace and stability in Northeast India. As a result, Bangladesh has become an outstanding security partner to India. Through the ongoing connectivity endeavors, Bangladesh has contributed to the unprecedented development of the North Eastern states of India.
Akhaura Agartala Rail Project will also contribute to the development of NE by increasing trade and communications. The rail line would boost the tourism sector of both countries. The new rail project will enhance relations between India and Bangladesh and aid in the growth of small-scale industries in the border area and boost tourism in the northeastern region. Facilitating faster export and import of commodities would benefit local producers in exporting their products outside the country.
Author: Sharmili Mahjabeen; Freelance Researcher and Political Analyst.
