Govt to restore rail links to India, Nepal, Bhutan

'We believe that if the old rail connectivity can be restored and reopened, including the sealed rail links, we will gain a lot more in trade, business and tourism'

The Bangladesh government is set to reopen the disused and defunct transborder rail routes to India, Nepal and Bhutan in a major boost to cross-border trade and tourism.

The restoration of two of the planned routes has already been completed in time for their inauguration during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s four-day official visit to India, which begins on Friday.

The routes connecting Bangladesh with Nepal and Bhutan are also part of the proposed Trans-Asian Railway network.

“We believe that if the old rail connectivity can be restored and reopened, including the sealed rail links, we will gain a lot more in trade, business and tourism,” Railway Minister Mujibul Huq told the Dhaka Tribune.

The rail links that will be restored pass through the crossing points on the Bangladesh-India border: Chilahati to Haldibari, Biral to Radhikapur, Benapole to Petrapole, Rohanpur to Singhabad, Shahbazpur to Mahisasan, and Burimari to Changrabandha.

Of them, the Benapole-Petrapole and Biral-Radhikapur corridors will be inaugurated during the prime minister’s India visit.

Bangladesh already operates one transborder train service with India, linking Dhaka to Kolkata in West Bengal. The “Maitree Express” was relaunched in 2008 after a 43-year hiatus and now runs three times a week in each direction through the Darsana-Gede interchange point.

Industry experts expect the improved cross-border rail links to boost the country’s business sector.

Source: dhakatribune