AGARTALA, July 30 (TIWN): Tripura Government is expected to receive the fund of Rs. 97 crore for the land acquisition of the proposed rail link between India and Bangladesh from Northeastern state of Tripura from the central government soon, said official source. The centre had already reduced the total fund for the long awaiting project in view of the high cost of the land in the India territory. The fund for land acquisition was cut from Rs. 302 crore to Rs. 97 crore. At the mean time the Lok Sabha was recently being informed that there has been no work for the proposed Agartala Akhaura rail project due to the high cost of land in the Indian territory. But, in view of the same the centre had recently sanctioned a total of Rs. 580 crore for the project whereas the fund for the land acquisition is likely to be released soon to Tripura Government. The state government had earlier demanded the central government to release at least 60 per cent of the fuind from the total sop that the land acquisition work can be taken up as the earliest.

 The External Affairs Ministry had earlier sanctioned Rs 400 crore to Bangladesh for acquiring land and laying of about ten km long track on the Bangladesh side, he said. The project would be completed by 2017.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina discussed on the issue during the former’s visit to Dhaka on June 6-7 and India would fund the entire project.

Transportation between India and Bangladesh bears much historical and political significance for both countries, which possessed no ground transport links for 43 years, starting with the partition of Bengal and India in 1947.

Railway tracks would be set up from Badharghat Railway station to the national highway and it covers a total of distance of 500 metre where surface tracks will be laid.

This length of railway track would be laid on a width of 10 metre. After that, the elevated corridor will begin and end at Charipara yard. This elevated corridor would be taking a width of 30 metres, the official said.