Context: The much-awaited Agartala-Akhaura rail link project and ‘Khulna–Mongla Port rail line’ has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina virtually. 

• An international rail link between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh is a step closer to reality after the successful completion of a freight train trial on the 10.5 kilometre track, as reported by The Hindu. 

• The freight train with an engine and three cargo containers started its journey from Gangasagar railway station of Bangladesh and reached Nischintapur in Tripura in the trial.

• Note: Tripura shares an 856 km-long international border with Bangladesh, much of which is disputed locally. The northeastern states, including Tripura, are only accessible through a narrow strip of land in West Bengal. 

Background

• The connection was originally constructed in the late 19th century to cater to Assam’s tea industry’s demand for access to the Chittagong port.

• The project gained momentum in 2010, during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two countries to start the first international Indo-Bangla railway project. 

Akhaura-Agartala Rail Link

• It is a significant cross-border project between India and Bangladesh, that connects Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh.

• The project was revived in 2010 and sanctioned in 2012-13, and scheduled to be completed by December 2020 but was delayed due to land acquisition issues and the Covid-19 pandemic.

• The rail link is 12.24 km long, with a 6.78 km dual gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura.

• Funding: The Project is implemented with complete financial and technical assistance from the Government of India based on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model.

• According to the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the national news agency of Bangladesh, the cost of construction of 6.78 kilometers of railway in Bangladesh is estimated to be around Taka 241 crore.

• IRCON, CPSE of Railways is the executing agency for the Indian side and also Project Management Consultant (PMC) for Bangladesh Railways. 

Key Benefits

• Upon operationalisation of this ambitious rail project, it will cut travel time of rail journey from Kolkata to Agartala (via Guwahati) of 31 hours and 1500 km to just 10 hours and 500 kms via Dhaka .

• This cross border project will enhance the business ties between the two nations and will provide a direct access between landlocked north eastern part of the country with the Chittagong port of the neighbouring country.

• This railway link will boost the bilateral relations and promote tourism, trade and cultural exchange between the two nations. 

• It will also help in growth of small scale industries in the border area and boost tourism of the NE region. 

• It will also help in export and import of commodities faster and help the local producers to export their products outside the country faster. 

• Expanded Connectivity: The Akhaura-Agartala rail route is seen as a significant initiative to enhance India’s connectivity with Southeast Asian regions, holding potential for regional economic growth.

• The project is also an example of PM Modi’s vision of ‘Act East Policy’.

Khulna–Mongla Port Rail Line

• It is a broad-gauge railway line, aimed to connect the country with Mongla Port.

• The project was part of the first Line of Credit from India with a total project cost of $388.92 million to Bangladesh in 2010.

• Mongla is the second largest port of Bangladesh and the new line will increase the port’s connectivity by linking it to the existing rail network of Khulna.

Key Significance

• The project will facilitate smooth cargo movement between the Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh and various states in India.

• It aims to boost India-Bangladesh trade in agriculture products, tea, sugar, construction items, iron and steel, and consumer items, as well as people-to-people relationships.

Conclusion

• The multi-dimensional cooperation between the two countries ranges from traditional tourism, health, and education sectors to frontier technologies of nuclear science, space, and information technology.

• The two countries are looking forward to collaborating in new areas of cooperation, such as the environment, climate change, cyber security, ICT, space technology, green energy, and the blue economy.