NEW DELHI: The newly cleared passenger train service between India and Bangladesh will initially run from Sealdah in Kolkata to Joydebpur in Bangladesh, which is a point 25 km short of Dhaka. Later, it could be extended to Dhaka depending on the response and feasibility.

Providing details of what is seen as a major step aimed at improving bilateral relations, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said here on Saturday that it was the outcome of prolonged discussions between railway officials on both sides, along with Ministry of External Affairs officials. The clinching decision was taken at a meeting on March 8 in New Delhi.

Officials from both the sides, Mr. Prasad said, would work out the logistics.

Frequency

Officials said the train would initially run thrice a week either way between Sealdah and Joydebpur. Both countries will provide the coaches and locomotives. The frequency will be reviewed three months after the start of the service. While India will run the service for the first six months, Bangladesh will do so for the next six months.

The Indian and Bangladesh Railways are together trying to have trial runs ahead of April 14. Keeping in mind the experience of the Samjhauta Express and security aspects, the train will be provided with only reserved coaches.

Railway officials here said they would have to race against time to start the service from the announced date, as a lot of groundwork needed to be done. A senior official said: "We are keeping our fingers crossed and are trying to achieve what has been decided as a lot of issues including security aspect of the whole service needs to be sorted out."

A Kolkata-Dhaka bus service has been running since July 1999, and a Dhaka-Agartala bus service was started recently.

Eastern Railway sources said from Kolkata that the distance from Sealdah to Dhaka would be about 250 km. The line will enter Bangladesh through Gede, 115 km from Sealdah. After Joydebpur, however, there is a short stretch of the line, ahead of Tungi, that is non-broad gauge. They pointed out that unless this stretch is converted, through running of the train would not be possible.

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