Indo-Bangla talks on track for a new train

At present, there is no regular passenger train link between the two countries. There is only one special train which comes to Midnapore from Dhaka every year, carrying pilgrims for Urs.

However, two to three freight trains run between the two countries daily. Indian exports to Bangladesh — food grains, sugar, coal and other items — are carried on these trains.

Sources in the Ministry of Railways said there was tremendous scope for running passenger trains between the two countries.

More than 2,000 Bangladesh citizens legally visit Calcutta every day for business and medical treatment. Officials say a passenger train service with Bangladesh would probably be more successful than theexisting one with Pakistan.

“There are less security risks involved in running a train between Indian and Bangladesh,” an official said, adding that the real challenge was in keeping out unwanted guests and criminals on the run.

He said the border with Bangladesh was in any case so porous that people simply walked across. But with a bus service and a passenger train service in place, things could only improve.

“The security and customs personnel would have to become more vigilant and, with the checking more stringent, people would require proper passports and documents to cross the border,” he said.

Sources added that passenger trains between the two countries could be run without much additional cost to the Railways. Four lines — two each of broad gauge and narrow gauge — already connect West Bengal to Bangladesh. Another line, the Petrapole Broad Gauge line, is also being restored. The Eastern Railway Broad Gauge line from Bongaon to Petrapole connects with the Benapole-Jessore Broad Gaugeline of Bangladesh Railway.

India is already working on restoration of the line. Bangladesh too had informed India during the Indo-Bangladesh Trade Review Talks in December that restoration of the Benapole-Jessore section on their side is likely to be completed by June 1999. They also said that if Bangladesh Railways required any sleepers for the line, they would take them from India.

Bangladesh is reportedly already working on improving its infrastructure to facilitate rail movement in the country.

Till June last, freight trains from India going to Western Bangladesh had to cross the Jamuna river on a ferry. The narrow gauge wagons were loaded on to the ferry. However, with the construction of the Banga Bandhu Bridge across the river, it is not so any longer, sources said. Since 2,000 Bangladeshis legally visit Calcutta daily, a train service to Dhaka would be better than that with Pakistan.