Agartala-Akhaura rail link likely to be opened by year-end: Indian minister

India's Minister for Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy yesterday inspected Nischintapur railway yard, which will connect Tripura with Bangladesh's Akhaura, and said the link is very likely to be inaugurated by the end of this year.

"We are expecting this project to be inaugurated by the end of this year and in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina," he told media at Nischintapur.

He said India's Ministry of Development of North East Region is funding the railway line from Agartala to Nischintapur and the Ministry of External Affairs is providing funding for the Bangladesh side.

The project has missed the deadline of June this year for completion, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Adjacent to Nischintapur railway yard will be an integrated check post, which will connect the passengers to the Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link station to avail the train journey to Kolkata via Dhaka.

The opening of the Agartala-Kolkata rail link via Dhaka will cut the Agartala-Kolkata distance by 11 hours, officials said.

Asked about the new rail link project, Reddy said, "The opening of this new international rail link project will not only ease the journey for the people of Tripura and the northeast but will also help the economy of other northeast states of India."

He said this rail line is strategic in nature as India believes in further enhancing ties with Bangladesh. The minister also said the trade between the two countries will be strengthened with the operationalisation of the rail link project.

Kishan Reddy also interacted with Indian officials stationed at all points of the Agartala-Akhaura rail link project and urged them to work at an accelerated pace and ensure completion by the designated date.

The minister assured the officials of all possible support for ensuring the timely completion of the project.

The minister said the Agartala-Akhaura railway project would prove to be a game-changer and boost trade, tourism and cultural ties between India and Bangladesh.

The Agartala-Akhaura railway project is vital to India's Act East policy, he said.