AGARTALA, April 9 (TIWN): With Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina on Saturday jointly launched new rail and bus services between India and Bangladesh and restored an old rail link between the two South Asian neighbours following bilateral talks, Tripura is waiting when India-Bangladesh will be linked via Tripura soil and state to become as the Southeast Asia's gateway. During Central BJP Railway Minister for state Rajen Gohain's visit on March 23, NFR GM H K Jaggi said that fund for alternative rail-line survey will be sanctioned by 2017 and the work is most likely to end in 2018. However there are 3 ways identified by Railway Dept can become the route of Indo-Bangla rail : Belonia, Akhaura and Sabroom, but fund for survey is getting to sanctioned in this purpose, said Jaggi. Earlier in 2016, October it was already declared that 15 KM Indo-Bangla Railway project to be completed within the deadline as it has been declared after a meeting between Indian and Bangladeshi delegates held at State Guest House.

Coming out of the meeting, the delegates told media that the project will be completed within 2018. Work to begin on the much awaited Agartala/ Akhaura Or Indo-Bangla project soon and to be completed by 2018.

Tripura became landlocked after partition was done in 1947 and during the gap of 70 years from Independence to 2016, Tripura has been remained at a corner being cut off almost from the whole country. The geographical location of Tripura, has been called as the drawback to the state, but after the BJP Govt came in power in 2014, the location instead of a drawback is using as the plus point for Tripura. A joint meeting was held between Indian and Bangladeshi delegates and discussion was held on this issue. 8 members’ of Bangladesh team had already arrived on Tuesday evening. The Agartala-Akhaura railway project would provide a major boost to development and economy of the north-eastern region of India and eastern Bangladesh.

The project would further boost Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Act East' policy. 

The Indian government has the highest priority to the Agartala-Akhaura railway project that would automatically connect the rail network of both the countries developing the bonding between two countries.

Agartala-Akhaura railway project would provide a major boost to development and economy of the northeastern region of India and eastern Bangladesh. Modi discussed the over Rs.1, 000 crore railway project with Hasina during his visit to Dhaka in June last year.