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Dhaka-Kolkata train on track from Apr 14

Indian govt rejects West Bengal's request for delay

Shamim Ashraf
The Indian central government turned down the West Bengal government's request to postpone the launch of Dhaka-Kolkata passenger train service, clearing the way for the launch on Pahela Baishakh, officials here in Bangladesh yesterday said.
Authorities of the two countries are expected to sign a deal on commissioning "Moitree [friendship) Express" after completing the two-day bilateral talks between Bangladesh and Indian railway delegations beginning in Dhaka today, an official of the communications ministry told The Daily Star yesterday.
The railway officials will also sort out details regarding the cross-border passenger train service apart from discussing a number of "unsettled" issues including hire charge for goods train and interchanging of wagons.
The Moitree Express with acapac -ity of 370 passengers will run between Dhaka Cantonment Station in Dhaka and Chitpur Station in Kolkata through Darshana border, once a week from both sides.
"The Indian High Commission has informed us that the central government has turned down the West Bengal government's plea to re-fix the date for launching the train service," Communications Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday.
Dhaka, however, is yet to receive any letter in this regard, he said adding. "But we do not see any problem now to begin the train service on Pahela Baishakh."
Launching of the train on Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year, became uncertain after the West Bengal government requested the central government last week to defer the date to the last week of May, saying that going ahead with the programme might violate the code of conduct for the panchayat elections sched-uled for May.
On March 11, Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav announced at the Lok Sabha about starting the much-awaited friendship train on April 14.
ATKM Ismail, additional secretary of the communication ministry leading the six-member Bangladesh delegation in the bilateral talks, said the deal of launching the service will be signed after the talks end tomorrow.
"The - Bangladesh government has already agreed to launch the train service from Pahela Baishakh. The issue will be raised at Indian parliament on April 3," he said.
The talks will begin at 11:00am at Rail Bhaban in the city.
RN Varma, Additional Member (Traffic) of Indian Railway Board, will lead the seven-member Indian delegation.
A train will leave Dhaka for Kolkata on Saturdays and start the return journey on Sundays. .Another train will leave Kolkata on Saturday's and start the return on Sundays.
Sources said train fares will be between $8 and $20 depending on classes for the 538km journey-41 8km in Bangladesh and 120km in India.
India has already set up the necessary' infrastructure like customs and immigration facilities, passengers' waiting halls and other related facilities at Gede Station on the Indian side of the border, said reports.
Meanwhile, the Darshana Station in Chuadanga is being renovated with facilities for immigration and customs check. Eight booths for immigration and one for customs check are under construction in Darshana Station.
"All the preparations will be made by Pahela Baishakh," said Mahbubur Rahman.
Sources said the rail authorities have been asked to make a complete plan to build a station with options for constructing metal fences at Joynagar of Chuadanga near the border.
Around three acres of land will be acquired for the purpose. If required, Bangladesh will also construct metal fences near the border for security reasons, the communications secretary' told reporters.