Indo-Bangladesh Railway Trial Run to Start in September

A senior official has revealed that a trial run of the railway line connecting Nischintapur in Tripura with Gangasagar railway station in Bangladesh is scheduled to take place on either September 9 or 10. The initial phase will involve the introduction of goods trains from Gangasagar to Nischintapur, with plans to eventually extend the service to Agartala station. P Kumaran, the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), undertook a visit to the Nischintapur railway yard on August 26. During the visit, a meeting was held with representatives from the railway and IRCON, as well as officials from entities such as BSF, Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Customs, Immigration, and National Informatics Centre (NIC). On August 27, Kumaran, along with Tripura Transport Secretary U K Chakma and railway officials, visited Gangasagar in Bangladesh to assess the actual conditions on the ground. On the same day, they conducted a trial run using a gang car, traveling from Gangasagar to Nischintapur. The official shared, P Kumaran, the Additional Secretary in MEA, visited the Nischintapur railway yard and convened a meeting with relevant officials to evaluate the readiness for the launch of the Indo-Bangla railway link connecting Nischintapur with Gangasagar. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is overseeing the entire process, and they are aiming for a goods train to run from Gangasagar to Nishchantapur around September 9 or 10. To facilitate the operation of goods trains, preparations are necessary for Customs, Immigration, internet services, and security. The official added that the MEA will collaborate with the Ministry of Home Affairs to establish Customs and Immigration facilities at Nischintapur. An official from IRCON stated, Both construction agencies, IRCON on the Indian side and TexMaco Rail Engineering on the Bangladesh side, are prepared to initiate trial runs of goods trains on the newly constructed track from Gangasagar to Agartala, tentatively on September 9 or 10. Approximately Rs 11 billion has been invested in the Indo-Bangla railway project that connects Agartala with Gangasagar. See also: India, Bangladesh sign agreements to boost railway cooperation https://www.constructionworld.in/transport-infrastructure/metro-rail-and-railways-infrastructure/india--bangladesh-sign-agreements-to-boost-railway-cooperation/36373 India hands over 20 locomotives to Bangladesh https://www.constructionworld.in/transport-infrastructure/metro-rail-and-railways-infrastructure/india-hands-over-20-locomotives-to-bangladesh/41172