Land acquisition to start soon in India

Acquisition of land for establishing a rail link between Agartala, capital city of northeast Indian state of Tripura, and Akhaura in Bangladesh will start soon as funds have been released by the ministry concerned, officials in India said yesterday.

Bangladesh and India had agreed to lay the tracks between Akhaura and Agartala during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in January 2010.

"Rs 97 crore were earmarked for land for Agartala-Akhaura rail project in the Indian side. The amount has been handed over by the federal Indian government to the Tripura state administration and we will start land acquisition in 5km area up to the border on Indian side.

"As we have to give notices to the land owners, it will take about three months to complete the process," West Tripura District Magistrate Milind Ramteke told reporters.

The process of laying the 15.054km railway tracks will be completed by 2017. A stretch of 5km would be on the Indian side and the rest in Bangladesh, he said, adding that the Department of Northeastern Region under the federal government has already sanctioned Rs 580 crore for the project.

The Agartala-Akhaura railway route would connect Indian Railways with Bangladesh Railways to improve connectivity and boost trade between the two countries, he said.