AGARTALA, Aug 16 (TIWN): Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation Devaragunda Venkappa Sadananda Gowda in his two day long visit in Tripura has been inspected various ongoing projects to check the utilization of Central funds. However Railway projects have got the highest priority among them. "The Agartala-Sabroom rail project has been completed 60 %. The Sabroom-Agartala project of 144 KM at the cost of Rs. 3, 373.79 crores have been completed 60 % already. The phase-I and phase-II of the project are completed, whether phase-III and phase-IV to be done by 2018 March and June 2019", said Gowda. However, the Minister has asked the administration to complete all the necessary works regarding land acquisition so that the project can be completed soon.

The Minister also has visited Agartala Railway Station to check the Indo-Bangla project's development status. However, the Minister has expressed satisfaction about the working progress. 

Works on Indo-Bangla projects are going on in Tripura Part and the Bangladesh side expectedly to be completed by next year December. Thus some more waits as the rail tracks to reach at the functioning level in 2019’s beginning.

At the beginning of September, after a meeting held among the state and central officials, Samarjit Bhowmik (Former Transport Secretary while the project began) told media  that as per as India side is concerned works had begun in Tripura side and for Bangladesh side the govt has sought time till 2018 December. “By 2019 January the project most likely to be finished and come under functioning”, said Bhowmik. “At the part of the project under Shib Sagar (Bangladesh) they are processing their works very quickly and it is expected that they will start work on it within few months”, said Bhowmik.

However, the project would 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.

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 officials on Wednesday had visited Nischintapur area as a part of inspecting the work-progress. However, land acquisition has been completed so far.