Govt. fast tracks ₹972-cr Bangladesh-Tripura rail project

Official sources disclosed that the government has fast tracked the ₹972 crore Tripura Bangladesh rail project, which will be commissioned by 2020. The Agartala-Akhaura Railway Link (Bangladesh) project is being funded by the Ministry of Northeast DoNER on the Indian side and by MEA on the Bangladesh side. Once operational, it will cut the rail journey from Kolkata to Agartala (via Guwahati) of 38 hours and 1500 km to 15 hours and 500 km. Maitree Express is already running between Kolkata and Dhaka which can be extended to Agartala. The length in Indian side is 5.46 km and on Bangladesh side it is 6.57 km. IRCON, CPSE of Railways is the executing agency for the Indian side and also Project Management Consultant for Bangladesh Railways. Out of the 15.19 acres of land to be acquired at Nischintpur Yard, 2.30 acres has been handed over to the contractor.