Indian team due Jan 17 to sign MOU on goods train service

NEW DELHI, Jan 7: A team of senior officials of Indian Railways will visit Bangladesh on January 17 for signing the MOU on movement of trains carrying goods between the two countries.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday also told newsmen the goods train would pass through Petrapole-Benapole border.

The work for laying of broad gauge tracks for this purpose has been completed on the Indian side, she said.

To begin with, the movement of trains across the border will be confined to goods traffic and could be extended to passengers if the two countries are willing, she said.

India is also in touch with Bangladesh to help connect Assam and Tripura with West Bengal through Bangladesh territory, according to Indian railway officials here.

Official and industry sources here are optimistic that introduction of goods train movement would give a big boost to trade between India and Bangladesh and help ease the current goods traffic congestion by road between the two countries owing mainly due to inadequate storage and godown facilities on both sides of the border at Petrapole-Benapole.