Govt launches ground work for India-Bhutan rail line

In order to directly connect Bhutan with India via a rail line, a survey has been commissioned by the Railway Board to build Mujnai-Nyoenpaling rail line as Railway Minister Piyush Goyal during his recent visit to the country has steered the mega project. Both countries will also deliberate on notification of the new transit customs at Pandu, Jogighopa and Agartala railway stations. Also, an agreement reached on making the land customs station at Nagarkatta as a permanent customs station. Apart from India-Bhutan, the north-east part of India will be connected to Bangladesh by a new Indian rail line by next year. Recently, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the railway line, connecting north-east India to Bangladesh, will be ready by the end of 2021. Once construction of the rail line between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh is complete, the first train is expected to run from north-east India to Bangladesh on the eve of India's 75 years of Independence in the year 2022. The landmark railway line will be completed before 2021- end. The ministry will bear the cost of laying a 5.46 km long track on the Indian side, while the cost of laying a 10.6 km track on the Bangladesh side will be borne by the External Affairs Ministry. The rail line will connect Gangasagar in Bangladesh to India's Nischintapur and from Nischintapur to Agartala railway station.