AGARTALA, Sep 13 (TIWN): Modi Govt’s ‘Act-East’ Policy raised Tripura’s expectations high as Railway Ministry gearing up for next express Train service to Kolkata after Delhi bound Tripura SundariExpress.Long awaited Kolkata-Agartala Express train, which failed to take a fresh start from August this year, to be started from September as per the NFR railways authorities.’Due to lack of bogies, the train couldn’t be operational earlier’, said BJP state President Biplab Deb on Monday. Due to unjustified high flight fares by various Airlines, Kolkata-Agartala Express train was one of the major demands raised byTripurapeople on 31st July, during the inauguration of Tripura Sundari Express train Agartala-New Delhi service by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. But due to lack of bogies, and many other ongoing works on Indian Railway Project along Dharmanagar-Agartala corridor, the work couldn’t be finished in due time. On the day of Delhi-Agartala Express train inauguration, Prabhu also said, “In 2- 3 years, the budget has been increased a lot. In 2014-15 it was 5,489 crores, in 2015-16 it was 6,100 crores, in 2016-17 the target will be atleatsRs. 7,000 crores”. Modi’s Act East Policy’s blessing continues Tripura’s soil and 2016 is considered as a historical year for Tripura, as in this year state got its first broad-gauge, then one express train & now state is again ready to get the 2nd Express Train within 2 months of gap.

Various works on railway project still incomplete including Agartala-Sabroom railway service expansion, Indo-Bangla railway project.

However, Modi’s vision for infrastructure development, faster communication & to connect whole India with railway service likely to benefit the state a lot in coming days.