AGARTALA, Sep 4 (TIWN): With one month has passed since the introduction of Tripura Sundari Express train from Agartala to Delhi and people are now eagerly waiting for the introduction of the train service between Agartala and Kolkata. It is to be mentioned here that public expectation is going high for immediately introducing train service e between Agartala and Kolkata as frequently people travels to Kolkata for varied reasons. Due to absence of train service upto Kolkata, people choose to travel via flight not out of choice but out of compulsion. After Tripura-Sundari express, people eyes for Agartala-Kolkata express train, Union Minister assures to look over the issue for running Express train between Agartala and Kolkata soon.

It is to be mentioned here that for Tripura direct connectivity with Kolkata is most essential as many people travels regularly between Agartala and New Delhi. 

However, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that preference will be laid to start an express train service between Agartala and Kolkata. However, prabhu Couldn’t clearly say anything the date for the commencement of the train between Agartala and Kolkata but it will be done soon.

It took more than four decades to connect the capital city after northern Tripura's business hub Dharmanagar came on the railway map in 1964. This railway connectivity is the lifeline for millions in Tripura, western Manipur and Mizoram besides southern Assam.

With the launch of the passenger train, the mountainous border state of Tripura has now been connected with the national capital via Guwahati, Assam's main city which is about 600 km from Agartala.

The extension of then existing metre guage track up to northeastern state capital of Agartala brought the city on India's rail map for the first time in October 2008 since the advent of the railways in this subcontinent in 1853.

It is to me mentioned here that once the Agartala-  Kolkata express train service  begins in the state the people will get relief from the soaring flight fare and the pressure on NH8(44) will also come down.

It was 1963 when the first traditional whistle of the train was heard in the state at Dharmanagar.  The NFR had passed the order for the railway service to the land locked state in the year 1959 and after 5 years on 1963 the first train entered to the state on December 18.  The first train was connected to Dharmanagar of Tripura via Assam Kalkaliaghat in the year 1963.

The train entered to Dharmanagar via Assam Kalkaliaghat in the year 1963 covering a total distance of 24.63 miles.

It was 1963 when Tripura got railway service in the state and in the year 2016 Tripura got  its first BG express train connecting Agartala and Delhi on July31.

However, the first train service was inaugurated onn1964 on 22 April by the then Chief Minister of Tripura Sachindra Lal Singh in presence of the then Jail minister   Prafulla Das and after decades union Minister inaugurated the express train on July31, 2016.