A new passenger train service, Bandhan Express, between Kolkata and Khulna, Bangladesh was flagged off today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The three leaders launched the train through a video conference.

Travelling between Kolkata and Khulna, the fully air-conditioned weekly passenger service will run every Thursday from both Kolkata and Khulna.

While the train had an inaugural run today, the commercial service will begin November 16.

“As per joint declaration dt 07th June 2015, both PMs agreed to take measures for ensuring more passenger-friendly customs and immigration facilities for the passengers of Maitree Express & today jointly inaugurated modern International Passenger Terminus at Kolkata,” the Railway Ministry said in a tweet.

The distance between Kolkata and Khulna is nearly 172 kms which will be covered in over four hours. Apart from Kolkata and Khulna, there will be two stops – Petrapole (on the India side) and Benapole (in Bangladesh).

This is the second Indo-Bangla train service after the Maitree Express. The Maitree Express runs between Dhaka and Kolkata. It runs six days a week from each side, covering a distance of 375 kilometers in 11 hours. There are two stops for immigration checking; one at Gede (Nadia) in India and the other is Dorshona in Bangladesh.

Bridges Inaugurated

Apart from flagging off the train, the leaders also inaugurated two bridges over the rivers Meghna and Titas in Bangladesh.

The two new bridges have been built on Bhairab and the Titas rivers to provide an “end-to-end” immigration facility to ease Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree train services.

The bridges will strengthen Bangladesh’s rail network; and “will help faster movement of both passenger and freight trains in Dhaka,Chittagong route in Bangladesh,” the Railway Ministry tweet said.

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