AGARTALA, Oct 8 (TIWN): After Tripura-Sundari express, people now enjoying the Agartala-Kolkata express train, which has begun its maiden journey on Saturday from Agartala Railway Station at 5.15 AM. Union Minister on July 31st assured to look over the issue for running Express train between Agartala and Kolkata----however, he has kept his promise.As the Agartala- Kolkata express train service has begun in the state, people will get relief from the soaring flight fare and the pressure on NH8(44) will also come down, and also the flight fare will decrease. However, 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. 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 and on Oct 8 Indian Railway marked another history on Tripura’s soil with the beginning of Kolkata-Agartala Express train.Under CPI-M regime state Tripura couldn’t get BG, although the party ruled for long 23 years but present the Central Govt brought BG, Delhi-Agartala express train.

 But, then CPI-M played a game in the inauguration programme saying that it was more important to launch Kolkata-Agartala Express train than the Delhi-Agartala express train.

However, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on the spot promised that state to get the train soon and within 2 months state has gotten its second express train.

 It shows if developmental motives are there, then BG, Express trains are nothing to bring. However, a massive chance of development is there with the coming of Railway in Tripura, although due to lack of connectivity state Tripura had been cut off from all developments till day.

The Kanchanjunga Express would leave from Agartala for Sealdah via Guwahati and Silchar on Tuesdays and Saturdays while it would depart from Sealdah for Agartala on Sundays and Thursdays.

It will halt at around 35 important stations enroute including Silchar, Guwahati, New Bongaigaon, New Coochbehar, New Jalpaiguri, Malda Town, Bolpur Shantiniketan and New Alipurduar. The train will cover the 1,556 km journey in 38 hours.