DHAKA, Oct 21, 2020 (BSS) – Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan today said the railway line from Haldibari in India to Chilahati in Bangladesh will be launched in December.
The Prime Ministers of the two neighbouring countries would inaugurate the new inter-country communication (the railway line from Haldibari to Chilahati) on the occasion of Victory Day in December and the freight train would run at the beginning of the next year, the minister said.
He said this when the newly appointed Indian ambassador to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami paid a courtesy call on him at his office at Railway Bhawan here.
Besides, there are plans to run a passenger train from Dhaka to Siliguri on March 26 next year, the minister said.
During the meeting, various issues related to railways of both the countries, including the ongoing projects of Bangladesh Railway with Indian funding, were discussed.
At present, many projects have been undertaken in the railways, he said, adding that with the launch of the Padma Bridge rail link project, it will be possible for Indian trains to transport goods and passengers from Benapole in Jashore to Dhaka easily and in less time.
The construction of a container terminal depot at Sirajganj and building a new coach factory in Syedpur were also discussed during the meeting.
The railway minister said that a section on consultancy will be set up in Bangladesh Railway in the style of India.
The Indian High Commissioner also expressed interest in developing catering services and training academies in Bangladesh Railway.
The minister sought the cooperation of India to send Bangladeshi Railway officials in India for training.
Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Md Selim Reza and Bangladesh Railway Director General (DG) Md Shamsuzzaman were present during the meeting.