AGARTALA, March 26 (TIWN): Union Minister of State for Development of the North-eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh in a press meet on Saturday at secretariat said that the fund for the Indo-Bangla rail link is already sanction but the fund will be realised from the ministry only after submitting the Detailed project report of the work status. Reportedly, The Union ministry of development of northeast region (DoNER) has sanctioned Rs 580 crore for the construction of the long-awaited railway corridor connecting Agartala with Bangladesh. India has decided to construct 15 railway stretches to establish the Indo-Bangla rail link where 10 km of tracks will be constructed in Bangladesh territory by the ministry of external affairs, targeting to finish the project by 2017. Addressing the press meet, Singh further said that the project was stalled for the last few months because of indecision on funding. Recently, the Prime Minister's Office has reviewed the issue and directed the DoNER to give funds for land acquisition, development of roads along the tracks up to the border and laying of track on the Indian side but the fund will be released only after submission of the detailed project report.

Accordingly, DoNER has asked the Railway Board to proceed with formalities for the Agartala-Akhaura railway line and the ministry is ready with funds. 

The railway ministry has also reportedly processed it to start work by March this year. 

A 500-metre line will be constructed from Agartala station to NH- 44 and an overhead railway line will be constructed along a 3.2-km stretch from NH-44 to Nischindapur. 

The remaining 1.3 km track will be constructed at surface level.Indian and Bangladeshi governments have decided to start a new rail link to ease surface transport. India will build a 15-km railway tracks linking Tripura’s capital Agartala with Bangladesh’s southeastern city of Akhaura, an important railway junction connected to Chittagong port, resource-rich Sylhet and Dhaka.

An agreement to implement the railway project was signed between India’s former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina during her visit to India in January 2010.

The Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON) would lay the new railway tracks on both sides of the border. Of the 15 km rail line, five km of tracks fall in the Indian Territory.

India has been keen to establish the Agartala-Akhaura rail link as it would facilitate easier connectivity between West Bengal and northeastern states through Bangladesh. It has offered to construct the railway link.

It is to be mentioned here that the soil testing is essential before progressing with the work of Agartala –Bangladesh rail link at Nischintpur BOP border area.

Earlier In a three day visit to the state, the NFR General Manager (Construction) R.K.Gupta inspected the work progress of Agartala-Bangladesh rail link at Nishchintpur BOP Indo-Bangla border area. Commenting on the progress of the Indo-Bangla rail link work he said that soil treatment is required before laying the track as the soil of the area is very soft for the aligned project. However, it is alleged that no work is done regarding the soil test of the area.

Akhaura was the rail head for Agartala prior to 1947 and served as a major link between Chittagong port and Tripura. The linking of Akhaura and Agartala by rail was suggested in 1974 with the signing of a protocol between Bangladesh and India for cross-traffic movement. The rail link will supplement the riverine protocol routes for enhanced connectivity between the two countries.