Dhaka, Bangladesh (CU)_ According to the Eastern Railway (ER) official, passenger train services between India and Bangladesh restarted on Sunday after a closure of nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bandhan Express was flagged off from Kolkata station on its route to Khulna in the neighboring nation. Maitree Express also restarted operations between Kolkata and Dhaka on Sunday and reached Dhaka on Monday morning, making its maiden trip from Kolkata to the Bangladeshi capital since March 2020.
Ekalavya Chakraborty, ER representative, revealed the resumption of the railway services between the two countries. He said, “Passenger train services between India and Bangladesh, which were stopped for over two years owing to the pandemic, resumed with the flagging off of Bandhan Express from Kolkata station at 7:10 am”. The Bandhan Express travels between Kolkata and Khulna twice a week, whilst the Maitree Express runs between Kolkata and Bangladeshi capital five days a week.
Mr. Chakraborty informed the media that citizens on either sides of the border are enthusiastic about the restart of railway services, which are completely booked for the next several days. He added, “With the comfort of train travel and a convenient time schedule along with affordability, people prefer this mode of transport over others such as bus and air”. He also stated that the trains can accommodate around 450 passengers and include air-conditioned chair cars and executive class categories.
According to Mr. Chakraborty, Mitali Express will be launched between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka on 1 June, enhancing India-Bangladesh railway connection through West Bengal. According to him, the new service also aims to enhance tourism in northern West Bengal, since many tourists from Bangladesh are eager to visit the Darjeeling Hills and the woods and tea estates of the Dooars foothills.
