PM, Modi open Khulna-Mongla Port, Akhaura-Agartala rail lines

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated the long-awaited Khulna-Mongla Port and the Akhaura-Agartala rail lines on Wednesday. 

The 7.9km rail line from Akhaura to Agartala as well as a new 64km Khulna-Mongla Port line aim at accelerating passengers and goods transport with India and other regional countries.

Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the lines developed under the financial support of the Indian government.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina termed the event "a demonstration of having rare friendly relations and mutual cooperation", reports BSS.

She said, "Bangladesh and India will attain many successes in the days to come through mutual cooperation which will strengthen the relationship between the two countries."

India PM Narendra Modi said, "This is a matter of great delight that we have again come together to celebrate the success of India-Bangladesh mutual cooperation. Our relations are seemingly reaching new heights continuously."

Pledging to stay beside Bangladesh to transform it into a developed, prosperous and smart country by 204l, Modi said, "The work we have done together in the last nine years was not accomplished even in the decades before this."

Sheikh Hasina said the two newly inaugurated rail link projects will help boost trade, business, tourism, people to people contact and attain economic prosperity of both the countries.

The final trial run of a train on the newly constructed railway track was conducted on Monday.

An empty container train started its journey at 12:20pm from Gangagar in Akhaura, Brahmanbaria, and successfully completed the 35-minute journey to Nishchintapur rail station in Agartala on Monday.

According to the project officials, in July 2018, the Indian contractor Texmeco Rail and Engineering Limited started the construction of the Akhaura-Agartala railway. The Bangladesh part of the 12.24km long railway is 6.78km. It took more than five years to complete the project due to various crises including the Covid pandemic.

Kolkata-Agartala distance reduced by 1,100km

Once the Akhaura-Agartala rail line is operational, the distance between Agartala and Kolkata will be reduced by about 1,100km. Also, travel time will be reduced from 31 hours to 10 hours.

Officials concerned said the combined cost of the Khulna-Mongla link rail line project and the Akhaura-Agartala rail link project is Tk4,704 crore, of which Tk3,335 crore was mobilised by India as loans and grants.

The Khulna-Mongla rail link line will help operate trains from Mongla to some of the western destinations of Bangladesh Railways and also to Dhaka via Khulna and Padma Bridge.

The line aims to operate freight trains to Gede, Radikapur Singhabad of India and also some other destinations of Nepal and Bhutan.