AGARTALA, May 14(TIWN): Ninety percent of survey to lay the rail link between Akhaura in Bangladesh and Agartala is over and remaining ten percent is schedule to complete within next couple of months, a top railway official source said here today

“After completion of survey for the 11.5 km line, other post survey works will start immediately as New Delhi plans to implement the project within two years. The Government of India has sanctioned Rs.2.52 crore for laying the railway track between Akhaura and Agartala” says the official.

It was also informed that both countries would complete works in their side. IRCON, an undertaking of Indian Railway, would work as consultant and the External Affairs Ministry of India will bear the cost of the project.”Of the 15.054 km railway track, only 5 km fall in Indian side and the rest is in Bangladesh. The tracks would be laid in meter gauge on broad gauge format so that it could be converted into broad gauge when necessary” he added.

During Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in January 2010, India and Bangladesh had agreed to lay the tracks between Akhaura and Agartala.Meanwhile laying of track is in progress for extending the rail-link to Sabroom in southern Tripura. Sabroom is also very close to the India-Bangladesh border and just about 70 km from Chittagong Port.