NEW DELHI:
In a bid to bolster the friendly relations between India and Bangladesh, the railway minister of both the countries flagged off a new passenger train service between New Jalpaiguri (NJP) and Dhaka, on June 1.
Mitali Express, which will run via the recently-restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail link, is the third passenger train after Bandhan Express (Kolkata – Khulna – Kolkata) and Maitree Express (Kolkata – Dhaka – Kolkata) to run in the route.
Mitali Express was flagged-off virtually by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and his Bangladesh counterpart Md Nurul Islam Sujan.
“Mitali Express will be yet another milestone in accentuating and strengthening the bond between the countries. Lots of collaborative efforts have been made between the two railways. It is a very opportune moment; a moment, when we should take bigger steps to cement our relationship between the two nations,” said Vaishnaw.
Mitali Express train will run bi-weekly (New Jalpaiguri at 11:45 hours on Sunday and Wednesday and reach Dhaka at 22:30 hours and Dhaka at 21:50 hours on Monday and Thursday and reach New Jalpaiguri at 07:15 hours) and cover a distance of 595 (out of which 61 km is India).
“Earlier, this train could not be started due to Covid pandemic restrictions,” a senior Railway Ministry official said.
Indian Railways LHB coaches (like the ones used in Maitree Express and Bandhan Express) will be used comprising 4 First AC, 4 AC Chair Car and 2 Power cars. There will be three classes – AC First (Cabin) Sleeper, AC First (Cabin) seat and AC Chair car, and the fare will be USD 44, USD 33 and USD 22, respectively.