Agartala:
The Central Government is contemplating to set up a multi-model transport hub at Sabroom in Tripura’s South district, which shares an international boundary with Bangladesh.
Minister of State for Railways, Coal and Mines, Raosaheb Danve, while addressing a press conference in Agartala on April 22, said that the opening of the hub will enable the “seamless” inter-movement of freight.
“Yesterday, while inspecting the work of railways, I visited Agartala to Sabroom (South district) line which shares an international border with Bangladesh. We have constructed a very good station close to Chittagong Port in Bangladesh. We will set up a multi-modal transport hub in the coming days after consultation with Bangladesh. If we set up this hub, the trade will flourish between the two countries. Our talk with Bangladesh is on,” Danve said.
The state government with the help of the Centre has constructed the Maitri Bridge over river Feni in Sabroom, and because of it, Agartala became the city nearest to an international seaport in India, he said. The bridge connects Tripura with the Chittagong port in Bangladesh.
Regarding the construction of the Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) railway link, Danve said that with the completion of this route, the distance from Agartala to Kolkata will be reduced by 22 hours. At the moment, it takes 38 hours to reach Kolkata by train.
“I have visited the Agartala-Akhaura railway link. The construction of laying railway tracks and other works are almost finished and it is expected to be complete by December. We are working to connect the Northeast with Delhi through railways and almost 60 per cent of work has already been finished and the rest will be completed by 2024,” Danve said.
The minister also informed that it mulling over doubling railways from Agartala to the Lumding.
“I feel it is necessary to double the railways from Agartala, we will soon start the survey. We will introduce another train from Agartala to Mumbai too,” he said.