The Hindu Business Line : India, Bangladesh conclude talks on train services to Dhaka

Kolkata, Aug 1 The final round of inter-ministerial discussions between Additional Secretary level representatives of India and Bangladesh on the early operationalisation of passenger train services between Kolkata and Dhaka concluded here on Monday.

While the Indian side still needs to address some of the major security concerns, like total sanitisation of the 150-metre stretch from the zero line up to the international crossing, Bangladesh has to complete the infrastructure-related work at Darshana.

Addressing newspersons here, Mr A.E. Ahmad, Additional Secretary, Minister of Home Affairs, Government of India, said: “train services will begin as soon as possible, as most issues of importance have been ironed out”. He said the crucial one-to-one dialogue between the Home Secretaries of both countries would be held in Delhi later this week, after which a formal agreement would be signed, signalling the fixing of a mutually acceptable date for the services to begin.

‘More time needed’

Mr A.T.K.M. Ismail, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Government of Bangladesh, said his country needed a little more time to create the necessary customs and immigration infrastructure facilities at Darshana, the exit point on the Bangladesh side. Expressing full satisfaction on the facilities created at Gede, the Indian side of the international border, some 116 km from Kolkata, Mr Ismail said the “Bharat Bangladesh Maitree Express” will have six coaches, including a pantry car, with a three-tier fare structure of $8, $12 and $20, excluding VAT. The running time will be 8 hours, excluding the operational stoppages.

He said Bangladesh has imported the rolling stock from Indonesia, and was hopeful of completing the essential infrastructure work by mid-September, before the fasting month of Ramadan begins. The revenue sharing would be 75:25, depending on the distance which falls on both sides. He said work on the Jamuna Bridge has been completed.

On whether it would be weekly or bi-weekly service, Mr Ahmad, while declining to say anything specific, said additional tracks would be needed if a daily service has to be run. He said the available infrastructure on both sides will determine the frequency.

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India, Bangladesh conclude talks on train services to Dhaka