Bangladesh and India Agreements for Railway Traffic between the Routes

Progress in Rail Sector Between India and Bangladesh

The Fundamental and Subsidiary Rules for Interchange of Railway Traffic between India and Bangladesh was signed in Dhaka on 11.08.1972. These Rules, mutatis mutandis, are still continuing.

Indian Railways have Agreements with Bangladesh Railway for interchange of goods traffic between India and Bangladesh via the following routes:

Route	Operational
Gede(India)--Darsana (Bangladesh)	Since 1972
Singhabad(India)–Rohanpur (Bangladesh)	Since 1992
Petrapole(India)–Benapole (Bangladesh)	Since 2001
Radhikapur(India)-- Birol (Bangladesh)	Not operational since 01.04.2005. Gauge conversion on Bangladesh side is yet to be completed.
Mahisasan(India)–Shahbazpur (Bangladesh)	Not operational since December 1996 due to breaches and lack of traffic.

An Agreement was signed between the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh in Dhaka on 10.04.2008 for running passenger train services between India and Bangladesh. Maitree Express is running between Kolkata and Dhaka Cantonment via Gede – Darsana route.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh in Dhaka on 16.02.2013 for development of Railway infrastructure to establish rail link between Agartala (India) and Akhaura (Bangladesh). This project is presently at standstill because of sharp increase in cost of land for the sections in India.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

Source:PIBNEWS.