Agartala-Akhaura Cross-Border Rail Link

November 1, 2023

The Agartala-Akhaura cross-border rail link project, set to significantly boost cross-border trade and connectivity, recently completed its successful trial run. A locomotive engine attached to four wagons entered Tripura, stopping at the newly constructed Nischintapur railway station.

Project’s Significance

This rail link, spanning 15 kilometers (5 km in India and 10 km in Bangladesh), holds immense significance. It will notably reduce the travel time between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka. Currently, the rail route covers approximately 1600 kilometers and takes 38 hours to complete. Once operational, the rail link is expected to cut down travel time to approximately 10 hours. Moreover, it will facilitate the transportation of goods trains to the northeastern region via Bangladesh, offering cost-effective logistics. Additionally, it will provide direct access between landlocked northeastern India and Chittagong port in Bangladesh.

Project Inception and Costs

The project was sanctioned in the year 2012-13, with the foundation stone for the Agartala-Akhaura rail link laid in July 2016. It involves the construction of one major bridge and three minor bridges. The estimated cost of constructing this Indo-Bangla international railway link stands at Rs 862.5 crore.

Delays and Challenges

Originally slated for completion in 2020, the project encountered delays due to land acquisition issues and the Covid-19 pandemic. While the rail link for goods trains is set to open soon, formalities need to be addressed by the Indian Railways and the Bangladesh Railway Board before passenger trains can operate.

Road Connectivity

Tripura shares an 856-kilometer international border with Bangladesh, parts of which remain unfenced due to local disputes. The state’s sole road connection with the rest of India is through Assam and a narrow strip of land in West Bengal’s Siliguri. Historically, Akhaura served as the railway link for Agartala during the colonial era.

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