Dhaka to Siliguri train services from March 26: Railway Minister

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Dhaka to Siliguri new passenger train services will be launched from Marh 26 next year, said Railway Minister of Md. Nurul Islam Sujan when Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami made a courtesy call on him at his office in Dhaka on Monday.

Dhaka to Siliguri train services from March 26: Railway Minister

Besides, he said the new rail connectivity between Chilahati in Bangladesh and Haldibari in India will be inaugurated by the Bangladesh Prime Minister and Indian Prime Minister through videoconferencing on December 17 this year on the occasion of the Victory Day celebration.

Sources at the Bangladesh Railway said Dhaka to Siliguri train services will require 21 hours 35 minutes and costs will stand $29 – $31.

The Railway Minister said an empty wagon will go to Haldibari from Chilahati on the occasion of launching the connectivity between the two routes. Later, freight trains would run on this route.

Md. Nurul Islam Sujan also requested Vikram Doraiswami to take necessary measures to materialise the Dhaka-Siliguri train services.

They also discussed about the progress of implementation of the ongoing Indian financed projects in Bangladesh. During their discussion, Khulna-Mongla Railway Line, construction of Internal Container Terminal at Ishwardi, construction of new rail line between Bogra and Sirajganj and Jashore to Satkhira, and building a modern coach factory at Syedpur came under discussion.

Apart from these, the also discussed in detail about the construction of an internal container depot in Sirajganj.

The Railway Minister said new train services between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar will be launched at the end of 2022.

He said it is not possible to improve the train services without the double lines. So, steps have been taken to upfgrade all the important railway lines to double lines in the country.

During the talks, Railway Secretary Md Selim Reza and Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Shamsuzzaman were present.